Sunflower Farmers Market’s 10-year run as Colorado’s homegrown natural grocer will end this summer when its stores get rebranded as Sprouts.
The merger of the chains, announced in March, was finalized Tuesday.
Sprouts said it will take down exterior and interior signs at Sunflower’s 12 Colorado stores in late August and replace them with Sprouts signage. Similar conversions will take place in Sunflower’s seven other Western states from July through the end of the year.
Sprouts said the merged chains encompass 144 stores with projected 2012 revenue of about $2 billion.
Sunflower’s dual corporate headquarters in Boulder and Phoenix will be consolidated into Sprouts’ Phoenix headquarters.
Terms of the merger were not disclosed. Both companies are privately held.
Analysts have said the timing of the merger suggests a vigorous competition with Trader Joe’s, which will open its first Colorado store in Boulder next year. Trader Joe’s also is reported to be considering a Denver store at East Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.
The majority owner of Sprouts is Apollo Management LP, the former owner of Vail Resorts.
Steve Raabe: 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com
