NATURAL GROCERS

NATURAL GROCERS. Natural Grocers opened its doors for business on November 14, 2018. Located at 3333 Asbury Road, the store was in the former home of an A & P Foods store, a Save-U-More grocery, and the TRI-STATE INDEPENDENT BLIND SOCIETY. Yhe grocery was the local branch of a Colorado-based grocery chain, the sixth branch to open in Iowa, and the 150th store of the chain to open in the United States.

At a time when consumers were more interested in the ingredients and origins of their food, Natural Foods offered several appealing qualities. Eggs came from free-range chickens and all dairy products originated from pasture-fed cows rather than confinement operations. Meat came from animals never treated with antibiotics, hormones or growth promoters. Natural Grocers also refused to sell products with artificial colors, sweeteners or flavors. Store officials announced that part of its floor space would be devoted to displays of literature about nutrition and free one-on-one health coaching to customers. In 2024, a local consumer offered the opinion that "it had a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and other dietary related foods. That's the main reason I've been going there for 5 years now."

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Source:

1. Montgomery, Jeff, "Officials See New Store As Natural Fit for Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, November 13, 2018, p. 1

2. Ora Uzel, email, January 29, 2024