The Fresh Market

[retailisking]

The Fresh Market (TFM), a Whole Foods-like gourmet supermarket chain based in Greensboro, NC, is expanding into Northern New England with a store in Bedford, NH.  Neither Whole Foods nor Trader Joe's has a store in New Hampshire (though TJ's has one just over the Mass state line in Tyngsboro.)  I'm a bit behind the curve on this bit of news (the Market Basket approval process has dominated news coverage lately) but you have to wonder for how much longer the twin titans of specialty food retailing will shun the Granite State.

[ynkeesfn82]

They're opening in Avon, Connecticut.

[RoleModel]

They're also opening one in...Southampton, NY? That's kinda odd, but it isn't. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods' easternmost locations are both in Lake Grove, which is about 40-ish miles west of Southampton. Usually most chains open their first locations in Nassau or western Suffolk though.

[mixedday]

I was in the Orlando area and happened to visit this store, which apparently not just a local store, or local to Orlando, but this store is part of a large national chain. I wasn't very impressed with it. It tries to be a gourmet store, but it's not like Whole Foods that has a lot of product like organic. The Fresh Market wasn't cheap either, and I didn't find the store to really have a destinational appeal like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

The ambience is such that try to be like Barnes&Noble with jazzy music being played, but I found the music pretty loud and basically drowning out a rather peaceful environment. Essentially, Barnes & Noble or Panera does it just right, but this store felt off. In South NJ there is a store called Rastelli's Market Fresh. It's also a gourmet grocery store, but they actually sell pizza (made in the store) and have a full juice bar/smoothie bar, unlike The Fresh Market. So Rastelli's does a better job of filling a gourmet niche. The Fresh Market sold sushi, which is gourmet for a grocery store, but there weren't too many other gourmet items. I found The Fresh Market's cheese selection to be quite limited, and overpriced.

I guess that I don't really understand the appeal of The Fresh Market. Anyone here familiar with one, and like the store? If so, why?

[FitchMike26]

Hello Mixedday. The Fresh Market opened in the Lehigh Valley around 2007-2008. Since then, they've opened additional locations in Glen Mills (former Zagara's/Foodsourse), Horsham, and in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. They also have a few stores in Central & Northern NJ.

While I have never shopped at one of their stores, I think you did a good job at describing them.

[ynkeesfn82]

Never been to one. The nearest one to me is in Avon, CT a very rich and stuck up town.

[BillyGr]

There's one in Latham (NY) just outside Albany as well.

There has also been some suggestion going around that Kroger may be looking at buying the chain, which makes you think they must be doing OK?

[TheFugitive]

They have one location near me in Pittsburgh which opened a couple of years ago.

However, I have never been in there because it is on a very busy corner, and getting
in and out of their parking lot is a very taxing chore.  Terrible site choice!

[mixedday]

It's funny that you mention site location. The store that I went to in Lake Mary, FL was also in a not so great location. It seemed like it was in a large plaza, but somewhat obscured from the highway. Hard to describe it what was off. It basically would be acceptable for Dollar Tree or maybe even Ross, but not a niche upscale leaning grocery store, or even most chain stores that are not discount oriented.

Also, that store didn't have WiFi, which I felt was unusual given that they offer in store seating, and try to go upscale in ambience. Wegmans, Whole Foods, McCaffrey's (Princeton NJ store) and Panera offer WiFi for those eating food in store, although sometimes not reliable (especially at Wegmans).

I did notice that they have stores somewhat near Philly and in Northern NJ, and at first thought it might be a good chain for more stores in NJ, especially So. NJ. But then, I figured gourmet niche grocers like Rastelli's and McCaffrey's (albeit very regional) are much better.

[JimSawhill]

I was in the Orlando area and happened to visit this store, which apparently not just a local store, or local to Orlando, but this store is part of a large national chain. I wasn't very impressed with it. It tries to be a gourmet store, but it's not like Whole Foods that has a lot of product like organic. The Fresh Market wasn't cheap either, and I didn't find the store to really have a destinational appeal like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

The ambience is such that try to be like Barnes&Noble with jazzy music being played, but I found the music pretty loud and basically drowning out a rather peaceful environment. Essentially, Barnes & Noble or Panera does it just right, but this store felt off. In South NJ there is a store called Rastelli's Market Fresh. It's also a gourmet grocery store, but they actually sell pizza (made in the store) and have a full juice bar/smoothie bar, unlike The Fresh Market. So Rastelli's does a better job of filling a gourmet niche. The Fresh Market sold sushi, which is gourmet for a grocery store, but there weren't too many other gourmet items. I found The Fresh Market's cheese selection to be quite limited, and overpriced.

I guess that I don't really understand the appeal of The Fresh Market. Anyone here familiar with one, and like the store? If so, why?

The two Fresh Markets in Tampa are okay, but they used to be old USave supermarkets...I don't know why they don't do EBT, but they don't. They do wine tastings.

[retailisking]

The Fresh Market will be getting its merch from the same company that owns Save-A-Lot...SVU is competing hard for new deals for its wholesale business, recently landing Marsh as another customer.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160815005351/en/SUPERVALU-Selected-Grocery-Wholesaler-Fresh-Market

[retailisking]

Second major grocery CEO resignation in as many days
http://www.supermarketnews.com/executive-changes/anicetti-resigns-fresh-market