Ryan Randazzo

The Republic | azcentral.com

Natural Grocers plans new Phoenix and Chandler stores

The retailer previously announced new stores for Gilbert

The company is expanding in the natural-foods space

Colorado-based Natural Grocers said Monday it will open stores this year in Phoenix and Chandler, in addition to two Gilbert stores previously announced.

The two new stores will hire about 50 people, according to the company.

The company specializes in natural and organic food, supplements and personal-care items, competing with companies such as Whole Foods Markets and Sprouts Farmers Market.

In metro Phoenix, Natural Grocers has a store at Scottsdale Road and Thunderbird, and others in Prescott, Flagstaff, Sedona and Tucson.

The new stores will be at 655 W. Indian School Road and 5805 W. Ray Road.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. is a publicly traded company with shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

The stores offer guarantees, such as meat raised without antibiotics or growth promoters, and dairy sourced from confinement-free dairies. Natural Grocers was established in 1955 and has more than 2,700 employees and operates more than 100 stores in 19 states.