Earth Fare Opens Tennessee Location

Earth Fare, the authentic specialty organic and natural foods grocery store, opened its fifth Tennessee location on Nov. 8 at 5414 Hixson Pike in Hixson, Tenn. 

Hundreds of shoppers lined up in advance of the 7 a.m. opening to be among the first shoppers in the store. The day began with a ribbon cutting featuring dignitaries including Andy Berke, mayor of Chattanooga, and Sandra Brewer of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, plus a $1,500 charitable donation Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga. There were several contests and giveaways, including a mystery gift card to the first 100 customers in line as the doors opened. The festivities continued throughout the day with product demonstrations, free samples, special deals and more.

Though Earth Fare already operates a store in nearby Chattanooga, months of preparation went in to bring the store’s Food Philosophy and local commitments to life for Hixson shoppers, say company officials. Earlier this fall, Earth Fare hosted a Local Vendor Fair in search of the area’s best local products for the new store. The company interviewed dozens of local artisans and growers before selecting more than 40 products, including Harvest Roots Krauts and Kambucha from Mentone, Ala.; Mayfly Coffee from Signal Mountain, Tenn.; and Noble Springs Goat Cheese from Franklin, Tenn., and many more, plus a variety of produce from eight local farms.

In addition to supporting local artisans, Earth Fare connects with a wide range of community members through its Community Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of local health and wellness experts, as well as residents and community leaders. These individuals have been integral in tailoring the retailer’s approach to the in-store experience and within the community to ensure the store’s offerings meet the needs of local shoppers.

“We’re here to make healthy food accessible to everyone, everywhere, and we realize that each community we serve will have different wants and needs,” said Frank Scorpiniti, president and CEO of Earth Fare. “Our Local Vendor Fair and Community Advisory Board establish an open dialogue with the Hixson community, so that we can exceed expectations and keep the conversation going.”

Beyond groceries, the new store will also feature Earth Fare’s Heirloom Organic Juice Bar, which serves 100 percent Certified Organic smoothies and juices, and offers custom blends as well as convenient, freshly prepared bottles to go. Shoppers will also find a wide variety of organic choices at Earth Fare’s Hixson Kitchen, featuring a salad bar, hot foods bar, pizza station, sandwich counter, and conveniently packaged meals-on-the-go. Shoppers can enjoy a homemade meal without the work, whether dining in the 128 seat café with free Wi-Fi or taking it home.

Earth Fare has distinguished itself as a leader in the healthy foods industry by developing a Food Philosophy that informs every product offered in the store. This Food Philosophy is exemplified by a rigorous set of Quality Standards, which ensures that all items are free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial fats, artificial trans-fats, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, bleached or bromated flour, and never administered antibiotics or growth hormones. The full list of unacceptable ingredients can be found on Earth Fare’s Boot List.