Sprouts Farmers Market plans expansion

Phoenix Natural-foods retailer Sprouts Farmers Market is opening its first stores in the Austin, Texas, area this weekend, and has at least 12 more slated to open in Texas, Colorado and California this year and into 2010.

Stores are scheduled to open on Friday in Round Rock and Sunset Valley Village, while two more Austin-area stores are also in the works for Rollingwood and Great Hills.

In May 2008, Sprouts announced plans to increase growth, raising $22 million in senior notes to help pay for that expansion.