Sprouts Merges with Sunflower Farmers Market

PHOENIXSprouts Farmers Market and Sunflower Farmers Market are merging under the majority ownership and sponsorship of Apollo Management LP, announced Sprouts CEO Shon Boney.Subject to regulatory approval, the combined company will have 142 stores and about 10,000 employees at the time the transaction closes, which is expected to be in mid-Spring, with several more stores slated to open in 2012 and beyond. This will extend the company's footprint into Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma. For now, Sprouts and Sunflower remain competitors, but if the deal is approved they will eventually unite under the Sprouts Farmers Market name.In 2011, Sprouts Farmers Market combined with Henry's Farmers Market under the majority ownership and sponsorship of Apollo Management LP.