Fast-growing organic grocer sets 2018 store openings

Sprouts Farmers Market is in expansion mode.



Sprouts Farmers Market announced it will open nine new locations in the first quarter of 2018. In total, the natural and organics grocer will open approximately 30 new stores across the country in 2018.



The first quarter expansion includes Sprouts' first store in Maryland (in Ellicott City), which also marks the chain's first location in the mid-Atlantic region of the country. Additional locations include Albuquerque and Las Cruces N.M. Fayetteville, N.C. Green Valley, Mesa and Tempe, Ariz. Sacramento, Calif. and Valrico, Fla.



Based in Phoenix, Sprouts operates more than 280 stores in 15 states.