Sprouts grocery chain expands across Central Texas

Sprouts Farmers Market is increasing its store count across the U.S. with a focus on Central Texas as future locations are already being considered north and south of Austin, reports The Austin Business Journal. 

The Phoenix-based organic grocery chain is bringing its first store to Georgetown as it ramps up more nationwide openings that could end up doubling its store count in Central Texas. Sprouts is planning its next location in Williamson County in the coming years although the real estate details are not confirmed yet, according to Dan Croce, Sprouts’ senior vice president of real estate. 

Croce added that the company is currently negotiating “a couple of other undisclosed sites across the region.” 

The expansion plans come as Sprouts is set to open a store in the Mueller neighborhood next month which Croce said will employ up to 110 people. 

There are also plans for Sprouts to anchor a potential shopping center in Kyle (a suburb south of Austin), where the addition of the Mueller store makes the metro home to six Sprouts stores already, as well as around 50 H-E-B stores, and the Whole Foods Market headquarters. 

Earlier this month, Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty Corp. presented plans to the Kyle City Council to develop a retail center anchored by a Sprouts grocery store, with room for other shopping, but the deal is not yet finalized. 

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The company aims to grow its store count nationwide by 10% every year for the next five years, according to Croce. The Austin area alone could ultimately have 12 stores. 

The chain currently operates more than 390 stores in 23 states nationwide, according to its website.