Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets Announces 23 Stores In Aggressive Midwest Rollout Plan Of 60+ Locations And Creation Of 5,000 Jobs In Five Years

Chicago, IL /PRNewswire/ - Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets, a new specialty grocer featuring healthy and organic value-priced offerings, announced today the Midwest chain will open over 60 new stores and create approximately 5,000 new jobs throughout the Midwest over the next five years. The company's first market will open in Mt. Prospect, Ill., this spring, followed by eight more grand openings throughout the remainder of this year.

"Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets will be a completely NEW grocery format for the Midwest," stated Chris Sherrell, President and CEO Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets. "We've taken the experience of an outdoor farmers market and combined it with the convenience of a full-service grocery store. Shoppers will enjoy value priced natural and organic items throughout our store, making healthy food more attainable to the masses."

"Our markets answer the Midwest's demand for fresh, healthy, natural and organic food, all at great prices, in a convenient and inviting format," added Sherrell. "We're excited to bring the farmers market concept to the area and create 5,000 new jobs in the next five years."

The heart of Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets' 28,000 square foot stores will be bountiful produce, including locally sourced and organic fruits and vegetables all at incredible values. Additional features of the markets include:

• Over 400 bins of natural and organic bulk items and small batch locally roasted premium coffee beans
• A butcher shop featuring all-natural handmade sausage made daily in store, offering over a dozen varieties
• Specialty items such as gluten-free and dairy-free products
• A full dairy section, which sources local Midwest items
• Fresh Thyme Kitchen featuring healthy prepared salads and meals as well as a full salad bar, made-to-order sandwiches and a bakery featuring artisan breads
• Aisles of nutritious groceries and convenient healthy frozen foods
• Hops & Grapes department with an expansive selection of wine and local craft beers
• Over 7,000 varieties of vitamins, supplements and natural body care products

"We look forward to building longstanding community relationships and partnerships throughout the Midwest," Sherrell said, "We're grateful to have already received a very warm welcome and overwhelming enthusiasm from our communities."&

Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets announces 23 of the 60 locations to open in the Midwest:

Illinois

• Spring 2014

211 W. Rand Road
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

• Summer 2014

35 Waukegan Road
Deerfield, IL 60015

• 2015

6567 N. Illinois St.
Fairview Heights, IL 62208

• 2015

321 Ogden Ave.
Downers Grove, IL 60515

• Naperville 2015
• Joliet 2015

Indiana

• Summer 2014

8750 U.S. Highway 31
Indianapolis, IN 46227

• Summer 2014

4225 East 82nd ;St.
Indianapolis, IN 46250

• Fall 2014

282 S. Creasy Lane
Lafayette, IN 47905

• Summer 2014

4310 Coldwater Road
Ft.Wayne, IN 46805

• 2015

2342 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260

Michigan

• 2015

940 Trowbridge Road
East Lansing, MI 48823

Minnesota

• 2015

8005 Penn Ave. S.
Bloomington, MN 55431

Missouri

• 2015

10798 Manchester Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122

• Ballwin 2015

Ohio

• Summer 2015

6700 Sawmill Road
Columbus, OH 43235

• Fall 2014

11349 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH 45249

• Fall 2014

3321 Alamo Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45209

• 2015

4341 Feedwire Road
Centerville, OH 45440

• 2015

2850 Centre Drive

Fairborn, OH 45324

• Worthington  2016

Wisconsin

• Brookfield 2015
• Milwaukee 2015

About Fresh Thyme
Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets is a new full-service specialty retailer focusing on fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings, all at amazing values. The stores' signature offering is an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables. In addition, Fresh Thyme's full-service offerings include a natural meat department, healthy deli foods to go, bakery goods, 400 bulk food bins, natural and organic groceries, dairy and frozen, as well as vitamins and body care products. Fresh Thyme will offer a NEW shopping experience to the Midwest, starting with the first store in Mount Prospect, Ill., opening spring of 2014, followed by 59 additional stores by 2019. You can learn more by visiting freshthyme.com, and be sure to keep in touch by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.