Local businesses that sell products to Earth Fare react to closure

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Earth Fare announced Monday it will be closing all of its stores nationwide. The Asheville-based chain has been around for 45 years.

The announcement has many of the local businesses who sell to Earth Fare very disappointed.

Jamie Ager, the fifth-generation owner of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, said the farm has been selling its locally-farmed meat to the store for 15 years.

"The founders of Earth Fare are friends of mine, and the philosophy that helped shape the natural foods movement is certainly embodied in the +Earth Fare brand," Ager said.

He said he didn't know about the closing until it was publicly announced. However, he said they've seen it coming for the last several months.

He said it is still a hit to their business.

"It’s certainly going to be a weekly partnership that we’re not going to have as much any more, which is unfortunate," said Ager.

To Smithson Mills, executive director of Blue Ridge Food Ventures, it shows how hard it is to keep brick and mortar stores open nowadays.

"The one constant in the food industry is change. We're not surprised that businesses go out of business, that new businesses start. But we have seen a general consolidation of retail," Mills said.

He has helped numerous local businesses like Buchi Kombucha, Lusty Monk Mustard and No Evil Foods get their starts.

"For an early stage food entrepreneur, getting into a super market is a really big deal," Mills said.

He said without Earth Fare, the businesses will have to find other places to sell.

"We still have over a dozen farmers markets where people can vend other food products directly to consumers. We have a good relationship with Ingles Markets," Mills said.

Ager agreed.

"Change is inevitable, and we’re certainly seeing a lot of change in the grocery retail sector. And so, it is scary, but it’s also opportunity," Ager said.

According to Earth Fare's website, the chain had more than 40 locations across 10 states.

The company cited financial stress as one of the reasons it has to close.