Sprouts, Sunflower Market Close Merger

PHOENIXSprouts Farmers Market and Sunflower Farmers Market announced the closing of the merger of the two companies. The merger makes Sprouts one of the larger grocers of the western United States with projected 2012 annual revenues around $2 billion. The combined company currently operates 144 stores, with six more scheduled to open this year, and employs around 11,000 people.

The addition of the Sunflower stores expands Sprouts into Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma and further extends its presence in the states of California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.  All of the Sunflower stores will be re-branded under the Sprouts banner beginning in July and occurring in phases through the end of the year. The stores will receive new interior and exterior signage, updated fixtures and expanded merchandise. Sprouts will remain headquartered in Phoenix, and Sunflowers corporate headquarters in Phoenix and Boulder will be consolidated into the Sprouts office.

It was first announced in March that the two would be merging under the majority ownership and sponsorship of Apollo Management LP.