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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEarth Fare, an Asheville, N.C.-based grocery chain that entered the local market in 2012, has decided to close all three of its Indianapolis stores, the company confirmed Wednesday.
The chain, which specializes in organic and natural food, plans to close the stores in Carmel, Noblesville and Greenwood on Jan. 11.
A company spokeswoman said Earth Fare regularly reviews its portfolio of stores and found the Indianapolis-area locations were underperforming. She said she did not immediately know how many people the stores employed.
Earth Fare opened its Hamilton Town Center store in Noblesville in 2012, followed by the store at 1390 Rangeline Road in Carmel in 2013 and at 2110 E. County Line Road in Greenwood in 2014.
The chain has one other store in Indiana, in Fort Wayne, which will remain open.
Founded in 1975, Earth Fare has more than 40 stores in 10 states in the Southeast, mid-Atlantic states and the Midwest. The chain promotes itself as a “healthy food” store, but also is known for having a higher price point than a typical grocery store.
Typical Earth Fare stores occupy about 24,000 square feet and have more than 40 employees.
Grocery competition is tough in the Indianapolis market despite the demise of Marsh Supermarkets two years ago. Players like Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Aldi, Whole Foods, Needler’s Fresh Market and Walmart Neighborhood Market have stepped up to grab market share left by major players such as Kroger, Meijer and Target.
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