Sprouts vs. Whole Foods: Pumpkin Ploy and Swordfish Smackdown

Sprouts Farmers Market, Phoenix's lovechild of health food and farmers market fantasy, is rushing to spread its 464 stores nationwide—targeting the Midwest and Northeast like a produce-themed conquest. By end of 2025, they plan to pop open 37 new stores, including a shiny January 2024 debut near Washington, DC, because nothing says "healthy expansion" like a pumpkin and dried corn welcome sign for 25-cent mini-pumpkins. CEO Jack Sinclair's Q3 call admits sales slowed a smidge as wallets tighten, but hey, private-label products and smart Instacart Caper carts ready to tally judgmental grocery bills should fix that. Oh, and the fish counter? Swordfish steaks are $10.99/lb—cheaper than Costco but drier, so marinate wisely. Also, forget produce first—Sprouts dangles meat like a shiny lure at the entrance, because health-conscious shoppers apparently crave a meet-your-butcher surprise. All this in a cozy 23,000 sq ft Burtonsville, MD store crushing the giant 40,000 sq ft supermarket model one pumpkin at a time.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Sprouts plans to gentrify the Midwest and Northeast with 25-cent mini pumpkins and drier-than-your-ex swordfish at $10.99 a pound. Because nothing says healthy eating like a meat display greeting you at the door and Instacart carts spying on your impulse buys.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Sprouts is basically Whole Foods' scrappy sibling, sliding into new states with smart carts stalking your purchases, meat greeting instead of produce, and pumpkins costing less than a good mood in 2024.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Only Sprouts could launch 37 new stores by year-end while giving shoppers a front-row meat feast upon entry and peddling drier swordfish than your out-of-touch neighbor’s Netflix recommendations.

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