Sprouts Farmers Market is expanding into Ohio after signing a lease for the former Big Lots property in Columbus.
“Guided by our purpose to help people live and eat better by making healthy, natural and organic products accessible to everyone, Sprouts Farmers Market can confirm that it has signed a lease in Columbus at 1451 W. 5th Avenue, and we look forward to serving the community beginning in 2028,” the company said in a statement.
During the company’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Jack Sinclair said, “This year, stores are focused on simple, genuine customer connections that make shopping easy and enjoyable while elevating daily execution, improving in-stocks, freshness and production efficiency.”
The Phoenix-based retailer is one of the nation’s fastest-growing specialty grocers focused on fresh, natural and organic foods. As of March 29th, Sprouts operated 483 stores across 25 states and plans to open at least 40 new locations in 2026.
Sprouts currently has nearly 150 approved stores and more than 105 executed leases in its development pipeline, including expansion into newer regions such as the Midwest and Northeast. Earlier this year, the retailer opened its first New York location in Centereach on Long Island. For the first quarter ended March 29th, Sprouts reported net sales of $2.3 billion, up 4% from the same period in 2025. Comparable-store sales declined 1.7%, while diluted earnings per share fell to $1.71 from $1.81 a year earlier.
“We continue to focus on accelerating customer engagement, foraging and discovery, building an advantaged supply chain and expanding access to healthy food,” Sinclair said. “We remain confident in our long-term potential and expect sequential improvement in the business throughout 2026 as we reaccelerate growth.”
Sprouts employs approximately 36,000 associates and operates more than 480 stores nationwide. The company ranked No. 45 on Progressive Grocer’s 2026 PG 100 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America and was also named among the publication’s 10 Most Sustainable Grocers for 2026.
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