Earth Fare was founded in 1975 by Roger Derrough in Asheville, North Carolina. Originally called Dinner for the Earth, the company changed its name in 1993. The original store offered organic food items in bulk, with no meat or dairy products, along with handmade organic “wellness” items, such as herbal remedies.
Today, Earth Fare acts as a full-service chain of organic supermarkets, offering organic produce, organic health, and beauty items, organic and grass-fed meats, and eggs from free-range chickens. The company has 20 locations in 8 states and over 2,500 full-time employees.
The company named a new CEO in October of 2015, Frank Scorpiniti, who has tasked the company with opening 12 new locations by the end of 2016. The 38th location opened in August of 2015. Some employees have voiced complaints on social media sites that this rapid growth is making the company a less enjoyable place to work.
In February 2020, Earth Fare filed for bankruptcy protection and stated that it would possibly go out of business.
After initially closing all locations, the company was able to reopen approximately 20 locations open as of 2021.
In June 2022, the company opened a new location in Cleveland, Ohio, while simultaneously closing a different location in Cleveland.
Earth Fare maintains a corporate office in Asheville, North Carolina.
Earth Fare was founded in 1975 by Roger Derrough in Asheville, North Carolina. Originally called Dinner for the Earth, the company changed its name in 1993. The original store offered organic food items in bulk, with no meat or dairy products, along with handmade organic “wellness” items, such as herbal remedies.
History
Today, Earth Fare acts as a full-service chain of organic supermarkets, offering organic produce, organic health, and beauty items, organic and grass-fed meats, and eggs from free-range chickens. The company has 20 locations in 8 states and over 2,500 full-time employees.
The company named a new CEO in October of 2015, Frank Scorpiniti, who has tasked the company with opening 12 new locations by the end of 2016. The 38th location opened in August of 2015. Some employees have voiced complaints on social media sites that this rapid growth is making the company a less enjoyable place to work.
In February 2020, Earth Fare filed for bankruptcy protection and stated that it would possibly go out of business.
After initially closing all locations, the company was able to reopen approximately 20 locations open as of 2021.
In June 2022, the company opened a new location in Cleveland, Ohio, while simultaneously closing a different location in Cleveland.
Earth Fare maintains a corporate office in Asheville, North Carolina.
I have switched to the Keto Diet and when shopping at Earth Fare in Fort Mill, SC I was lucky to run into Lauren. Just asking her where I could find something led to discovering she was also on Keto. Lucky me, she took me around the store filling my cart with everything I needed…great that it was all very tasty! Thanks to her, I am on the road to success and thanks to her, no need to also shop at Publix, everything I need is at Earth Fare, plus Laren to point out products…win, win for both of us.
I absolutely loooove Earthfare. I went to my very first store in Roanoke, Virginia. I currently reside in Pennsylvania and there are zero here. Can you bring some to north eastern Pennsylvania, near Wilkes Barre or Scranton??
Athens Ga – For a month their ice machine at the drink counter has been out. No ice. Heat wave weather and no ice for drinks in here which are warm to hot coming out of the dispenser. NO ICE. Other customer in here is fanning herself with a newspaper. It is warm in here. And no ice if you get a drink with your meal. I have brought this issue up to them each time and nothing is being done about this. I asked the guy behind the counter When are they going to fix this? He actually had the nerve to say It’s not broken. I said Oh yes it is! It certainly isn’t working is it?! He had no answer. I brought it up to the cashier who gave me a different story – said they have to get somebody down from corporate to fix it and they’re waiting … for a month now? That did it for me. I’m complaining and leaving a bad review. And contacting corporate next. Ugh.
Any chance of getting an Earth Fare in New Smyrna Beach, FL?
Disappointed Earthfare is closing but I feel their prices were being undercut by Walmart. Many items, including breads, mac and cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, soda, veggie lasagna are cheaper at Walmart. I was happy and not looking to buy elsewhere but it is my son that noticed the prices of the same foods are a better price at Walmart, and so continued to shop at Earthfare for their teas that are so delicious, and Siggi yogurt that has 15 grams of protein, and American veggie burgers that have 5g protein that are better than the ones that have 20grams of protein.
Earthfare is exactly what my doctors recommended I eat after I was diagnosed with a chronic illness that has no cure. I learned a lot about healthier eating and Earthfare went along with their ideas, however my heart doctor shops at Walmart too. It is my heart doctor that told me healthier eating is cheaper than unhealthy eating, however the prices at Earthfare can be expensive.
I won’t shop at Whole Foods because they were caught over pricing and believe Earthfare was the better choice. I just wished they knew they were being undercut by Walmart and did something about it. Shopping at Earthfare I didn’t have to pay attention to reading all the ingredients to make sure what I buy is natural and not chemical-based. I believe in reducing under performing stores while keeping the others alive. I’m surprised Earthfare didn’t allow customers to buy online especially to customers that are disabled including myself.
It’s odd to say goodbye to a grocery store closing, because where I grew up, grocery stores didn’t close, they thrived and are still around.
accounting problems alot of vendors not being paid and board members who own the “handpicked” line of earthfare products, this company has seen better days. Utterly ridiculous to close 5 stores a few weeks before Christmas. And at the beginning of the dec 2019 holiday season a company wide halt on beer and wine orders that continued through the new year. Oak hill investors seem to want to be done with its relationship with the company look for a sale in 2020. Good news is a chief executive officer Position will open up in 2020
LOVE Earth Fare. Have missed it since we moved from Greensboro, NC. Any chance of making Lancaster, Pa a new site for EF. Whole Foods is here, but NOT the same since Amazon took over. You would do well here.
Thanks,
Patsy Kendall
I have a question regarding the Scottish Salmon your Lakewood Ranch, FL store carries.
Recently I have been reading articles that farmed Scottish salmon is the most contaminated salmon and should not be eaten.
Can you please comment on the Scottish salmon you sell
The Hixson Pike Earth Fare is currently under management that will insult a long term customer of old age with fatal conditions when an item caused them problems upon ingestion. Old management had no problems with returns. This management called me a thief because I had no receipt which was never an issue before. They staff and management lied to me and insulted me over a small return. The health department person told me ” You may have bought this some where else and are just trying to get money out of this store since you don’t have a receipt” In other words.. You are a criminal because there is no receipt. You don’t treat customers this way and never had a problem with the old management of health department staff. When i tried the next day to explain my long term relationship with the store and returns were never a problem…they walked off in the middle of my statement. Rude and insulting to say the least. Many customers go to the other location here in town but I cannot drive that far because of surgery issues. This store is close and I can go there. Very bad representation of Earth Fare. I am not alone here talking to customers, Even the man in the bread department said it would have made him angry and he isn’t dying so there you go. These people should be fired at least for insulting old people who can’t travel to the other store. I have no problems with the Meat, Deli, Produce, or Bakery etc. Just the health supplement staff and management who are new and ignorant of my relationship with this store before they came along. Avoid this store at all costs.. go to the other location or better yet go to Whole Foods instead. Have a nice day.
Bad experience at the Boone NC store, where I shop regularly. The manager Brad accused me of throwing a seed on the floor. The pit of the cherry still in my hand. I dive public transportation, and served our country for 24 years. No manager should even falsely accuse, or talk to a customer or anyone like this rude person. This person must represent your store in a courteous and professional manor
John Longo
I was recently in your High Point store where the associate refuse to place our change in my wife hand, I have called you several times since with no response, Left name, number and email, even ask if i was trying to contact the wrong person, please email or call to direct me to the right person. I spoke with a manager the day of, giving him ever opportunity to explain letting him know that people of color find that offensive, I even watched to observe how she treated other customers not of color, only wanting him to see the chance for additional training, but i felt he tried to down play the situation, and he said she may have been flustered, and he didn’t offer and apology until I started to question store policy, and then it was a half an apology, and justification for her. I’ve done all I know to do reaching out to corporate, now i know your policy. Racism is real
new grand opening in highpoint .Went there last week Salmon 8.99 lb. Non in stock out of product on front page. Asked for raincheck they gave me one week raincheck. Today you have wild caught Salmon on sale went there to get some they were out .I come from Greensboro to get .Ask for raincheck this time again and was given 30 day raincheck. Talked to market manager he didn’t act very concerned. I have been there three times now and still know salmon . If you run ad you should have product. I waste my time and gas going for nothing. Douglas Burger e mail nburger@ northstate.net
Hi Doug,
I am sorry you experienced this at our stores. We certainly need to improve upon our in stock of product on promotion. We do not check this website, please submit this information on our website at .earthfare.com/contact-us/
so that we can take care of the issue and make it right for you.
Thank you,
Kristin
Marketing Director
I have been going to Earth Fare from day one in Huntsville Al. Today I went and had the worst experience I have ever had at EF. Two fairly new cashiers were talking and one was laying across the counter with her head in her hand talking to the other one. I put my items on the counter and walked forward and neither one spoke, so I proceeded to get my bank card out when I heard this loud thump and I asked the one packing what was it she dropped in the bag she said oranges and I asked her if she was having a bad day she didn’t answer “this is the same one who was laying across the counter”. I then told her if she did not want to bag my things I would do it myself. When she put the things in the third bag she took the bag and slung it on the bottom part of the basket. The one checking me out asked for my phone number I gave it to her for my points, she handed me my receipt and said here you go. I walked out turned around and reported it to the manager, he said he would speak to them. Someone else said they knew who I was talking about because they were nasty to them. I would like for someone to make sure the manager either spoke with them or fired them. In order for people to continue to come to your store you must have good customer service. That store already had a second grand opening because people just don’t like the customer service.
Hi Annie,
I am sorry you had a poor experience at on of our stores. We do not check this website, please submit this information on our website at earthfare.com/contact-us/
so that we can take care of the issue. We will also need to know the store you shop at.
Thank you for letting us make this right.
Kristin
Marketing Director
How do I submit a request to become a vendor?
I supply Earth Fare with White House Apple Juice. I would like to visit with the vinegar category manager to present new Organic vinegars.
Thanks
CitySide Farm is a certified organic farm, I would like to be a vendor at the Palm Beach Garden Area located in Florida.
Thank you,
Page Wilkerson
772-633-XXXXX
Page, have you ever gotten thru to the corporate number, their phone system is so weird and you can never speak to anyone. the receptionist voice mail says happy new year and will be back after the holiday if you can share anything with me feel free to email kathub@ att.net
I own the website address of everythingnatural.com. Are you interested in purchasing this before I put it up for auction? Please let me know.
Thank you.
Black &red aussie style licorice extract. Concern.elevatebloodpressure. if costume over the limits especially young kids and adults with heart disease. Most people not informed. Also some of the skin cream have propylene glycol. My boot list
Black & red aussie style licorice extract concerns. My Elevate bloodpressure.if consume over the limits especially young kids and adults with heart disease. Most people not informed. Also some of the skin cream have propylene glycol.
Earth fare is my favorite store. I started shopping there in Charlotte and now in Augusta GA. Why don’t you have any stores in the West? I will eventually move back to CO. I hear my daughter say that she wished she had an organic store like Earth fare in Centennial CO because she can’t find any organic stores she really likes. I honestly think there is a market there for it. Is there a possibility that someday you might open a store there?