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Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Mount Prospect, Ill.
There’s a new, farmers market-styled specialty grocer taking root in the Midwest: Fresh Thyme Farmers Market. With former Sunflower Farmers Market CEO Chris Sherrell at the helm, Fresh Thyme emphasizes organic foods and produce at value prices in a convenient neighborhood-store format. The company made its debut in April, in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, and went on to open six additional locations. A total of 60 stores are planned throughout the Midwest by 2019.
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High-flying Ulta Beauty to open 100 stores per year for next five years
Bolingbrook, Ill. – Ulta Beauty on Friday posted second-quarter net income that jumped 35%, easily beating Wall Street's expectations. The company also raised its full-year outlook, and announced a five-year strategic plan that includes opening some 100 stores annually.
Ulta’s net income for the quarter ended Aug. 2 increased to $60.8 million, from $44.9 million a year earlier. Net sales increased 22.2% to $734.2 million from $601 million last year, also topping expectations.