Alfalfa’s Market, less than one year after opening in Boulder, is laying off as many as 35 employees in its corporate office because sales have fallen short of expectations.
Sonja Tuitele, the natural grocer’s spokeswoman, confirmed Monday that the company has began notifying employees of the layoffs. About 15 percent to 20 percent of the store’s 175 employees — 26 to 35 people — will lose their jobs, she said.
“It’s been a hard day for everybody,” Tuitele said.
Alfalfa’s spent more than $10 million on its grocery store at Broadway and Arapahoe Avenue, opening its doors in April. The grocer had been aiming to have a location identified and a lease signed for a second store in spring 2012. Expanding into a chain is still an option in the future, Tuitele said. But now expansion plans have been delayed, she said, and the company was forced to scale back its corporate staff.
RoxAnn Boston — who has 13 years of corporate experience — said she uprooted from Arizona to take a corporate job with the natural food store. She said she was notified on Monday that she had been laid off.
“I’m not the only one in this same boat,” she said. “A lot of us left good- paying jobs, sold our houses and came here.” Daily Camera
