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Natural Grocers expands craft beer and wine concept

New Cottage Wine and Craft Beer sections to open in coming weeks

Russell Redman

May 31, 2018

2 Min Read
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Natural Grocers is bringing its Cottage Wine and Craft Beer department to more locations.

The natural and organic grocery chain said the concept will launch in Oregon at its stores in Medford on June 13, Gresham on June 20, Beaverton on July 11, and Portland and Warrenton later this summer.

Described by the company as a “nook within the store,” the Natural Grocers Cottage Wine and Craft Beer section offers an assortment of specialty alcoholic beverages, including local, organic and gluten-free beer, organic and biodynamic wine, local hard cider and alcoholic kombucha.

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With the expansion, the craft beer and wine department will be in seven stores overall. The concept made its debut last August in Denver and notched its second location this year at the May 16 opening of Natural Grocers’ new store in Coos Bay, Ore.

"From produce to supplements, every product we sell meets rigorous quality standards, and our wine and craft beer offerings are no exception," Co-President Kemper Isely said in a statement. "Oregon residents can trust that we've done our homework to source only the highest-quality craft beer, wine and more to their neighborhood store, and we believe they won't find this anywhere else."

Natural Grocers noted that it focuses on local products in the Cottage Wine and Craft Beer area to showcase beer and wine producers that commit to high quality standards and certifications. The chain said it only will sell wine that is made with organic grapes, USDA Certified Organic (or equivalent) or certified Demeter Biodynamic.

Related:Natural Grocers ups minimum pay

All wine is non-genetically modified (non-GMO), while all beer and cider must be made in the Pacific Northwest, certified USDA Organic or gluten-free, Natural Grocers said. The retailer’s 12 stores in Oregon also offer 100% organic produce; meat that’s humanely raised without antibiotics, hormones or other growth promoters; 100% free-range eggs; 100% pasture-based dairy; GMO-free, prepackaged bulk products; and groceries with no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives.

Overall, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. operates 147 stores in 19 states.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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