Independent local grocery stores are starting to grow again, says Lindy Bannister, a manager for the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, noting stores that make an effort to connect to their neighborhoods are the ones who tend to see the most success. In addition, independents like Florida store Nature's Food Patch, which just opened a second location, are thriving not only because the grocer is embedded in the community, but also because it does a good job of listening to shoppers' needs and staying ahead of organic food trends, says local director Rebekah Santiago.
Ultimately, the small stores' job is to find the next "it" health foods. Bannister, whose group represents Nature's Food Patch and 224 other independent store banners, looks to Kashi cereal as the perfect example. Fifteen years ago, it was sold only by independents, but now it's at retailers like Publix, Walmart, and Target. Independent grocers are nimble, able to bring in products quicker than the big guys with dozens to hundreds of locations. Santiago's pick for the next big thing since sliced bread? Paleo bread, reports Tampa Bay Times. Full Story
Related: Prices Fall Modestly at Whole Foods Since Amazon Acquisition; E-commerce Grocery Store Shifts to Brick-and-Mortar
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