“People should be able to eat healthy regardless of their socio-economic status,” says Beverly Stoddard, general manager of Salt Lake City’s newest natural foods store.
Natural Grocers, a Colorado-based chain that operates 103 stores in 18 states, recently opened in the Fourth South site most recently occupied by Whole Foods (previously Wild Oats).
They differentiate themselves from the competition by carrying only 100% USDA Certified Organic produce and pasture-raised dairy products, all free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and trans-fats. And “we out-price everyone in the valley,” says Stoddard.
The store opened with a solid product base that included local products and is in the process of adding more local products over the next six months, including local organic produce during the growing season.
Each store offers a nutritional health coach, free science-based nutrition classes, healthy cooking and demos. BYOB— checkouts are bag-free.
A Natural Grocers store also opened recently in Bountiful. More are slated for the Salt Lake City area.
Salt Lake: 645 E 400 S. Bountiful: 55 W 500 S, Bountiful. NaturalGrocers.com