The Fresh Market

Greensboro, N.C. – The Fresh Market Inc. will close its remaining stores in California, which include locations in Palo Alto, Santa Barbara and Laguna Hills, by March 31 in order to focus on higher growth opportunities. The decision comes even as adjustments to promotions and pricing helped drive impressive fourth quarter results.

The Fresh Market is heading into the new year with fresh leadership changes at the top.

The specialty grocery retailer announced that Craig Carlk, president and CEO, and a member of the board of directors, has left the company and has resigned as a member of the board.

The board has appointed Sean Crane, executive VP and COO, as interim CEO while the company evaluates candidates to replace Carlock.

The Fresh Market is heading into the new year with fresh leadership changes at the top.

The specielty grocery retailer announced that Craig Carlk, president and CEO, and a member of the board of directors, has left the company and has resigned as a member of the board.

The board has appointed Sean Crane, EVP and COO, as interim CEO while the company evaluates candidates to replace Carlock.

The farmers market has gone digital at Overstock.com where the discount online retailer has launched home delivery of locally sourced product.

Overstock.com launched the new Farmers Market section of its site to offer home delivery of seasonal, healthy food, grown and produced in close proximity to shoppers, according to the company.

Livingston, N.J. -- The Fresh Market celebrated its official opening at The Village At Livingston with “cracking the parmesan,” a centuries-old art and company tradition. The store, which occupies 23,000 sq.ft  at the 93,000-sq.-ft. shopping center managed and developed by Eastman Companies, marks the upscale specialty grocer’s third location in New Jersey.  

Greensboro, N.C. – The Fresh Market Inc. reported decreasing profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 even as net sales growth exceeded Wall Street expectations. Net income fell 25% to $16.57 million from $22.12 million in the same period the prior year, while net sales increased 18% to $431 million from $366.63 million and same-store sales climbed 2.5%.

Fresh Market plans to open four new stores in the second quarter and 12 to 13 new stores in the second half of the year, as well as remodel four-to-five stores.

Jupiter, Fla. — The Fresh Market has signed on as anchor tenant at The Shops at Fisherman’s Wharf in Jupiter, Fla., according to Elion Partners, a real estate investment firm that acquired the property in August. The specialty grocer plans to open in the summer of 2014.

Now under renovation, the 5.5-acre shopping plaza will soon resemble a European village with a pedestrian-friendly setting and a selection of new retailers.

The Fresh Market experienced an unanticipated sales slowdown across its store base, which it attributes to changing economic conditions and softening consumer confidence. Despite the slowdown, the company’s comparable-store sales grew and its gross margin expanded.