Sunflower Farmers Markets Plots Growth

New York Sunflower Farmers Markets has raised the financing for a major expansion of the company's retail locations, according to New Mexico Business Weekly.

The Boulder, Colo.-based grocery chain, founded and led by Wild Oats founder Mike Gilliland, announced that it has raised $30 million in equity financing from PCG Capital Partners, based in La Jolla, Calif.

Sunflower will expand in existing and new markets. Plans call for doubling the number of stores by the end of 2009. It expects to launch up to eight new stores per year, for a total of 50 stores throughout the West within the next five years.

The chain was founded in 2002, and currently operates 13 stores in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.