Press Releases

Teen entrepreneur lands Fresh Thyme deal By Kayleigh Fongers, Grand Rapids Magazine June 16, 2022 – A Kalamazoo teen recently secured a retail deal for her small business. Eighteen-year-old Anaya Fernando, owner of Sugar Sweet Bath + Body Treats, will sell her natural self-care products at grocery retailer Fresh Thyme Market. The official in-store launch will take place with a pop-up event from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at the retailer’s Portage location, at 6212 S. Westnedge Ave. Fernando will give a meet-and-greet and product demos during the afternoon. Founded in 2018 by Fernando and her mom and cousin, Sugar Sweet features products such as bath bombs, body butters, whipped soap, lip gloss and scrubs. Fernando said she wanted to create a mission-driven business focused on self-care. “I wanted to start something that helped women, because there are things out there that aren’t good for the body,” she said. A recent graduate of Portage Northern High School, Fernando landed the Fresh Thyme deal the same week as her graduation. The opportunity came through the Ready to Retail program offered by Teresa Baker, a Kalamazoo-based entrepreneur. The program is designed to position businesses to connect with national retailers. While the Fresh Thyme launch will begin in Portage, Fernando will find out how many other locations will carry her products after June 19. Fernando will attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College this fall while focusing on Sugar Sweet. She said she hasn’t decided on a major but plans to do something in business. Her recommendation for those who wish to start a business is to meet a need and find a passion. “Look for things that are needed, but things that you also like at the same time,” Fernando said. “You have to be able to love what you’re doing and how you’re doing it and what you’re doing with it.” See original article here: https://www.grmag.com/people-places/teen-entrepreneur-lands-fresh-thyme-deal/

Fresh Thyme Market Opens in November inside City Foundry STL ST. LOUIS (October 26, 2021) – Fresh Thyme Market is opening a new store on November 10 in Midtown’s City Foundry STL. The store will open in the City Foundry at 3701 Foundry Way. The store will be 27,000 square feet. Fresh Thyme will have fresh, local, natural, organic food, a full-service café, and a self-checkout model. “Community is at the core of everything we do at Fresh Thyme,” Fresh Thyme Market President Gerald Melville said. “We know our customers appreciate supporting local, so we’re really pleased to partner with RangeMe to offer products made in the St. Louis area to ensure they have the best shopping experience possible.”

How to eat healthy over the 4th of July weekend ST. LOUIS (July 1, 2021) – Your typical 4th of July holiday foods are burgers, hot dogs, brats, and chips, but those aren’t the healthiest options. So if you do want to go the healthy route, Meghan Sedivy has some ideas. She is a registered dietician and the health and wellness manager at Fresh Thyme Market. She has the details on the recipes from the Lakeside Renovation and Design Weather Deck. Sedivy suggests a bison burger because it has more iron and vitamin B12 than chicken. She said Fresh Thyme Market also has a plant based burger made with quinoa, walnuts, and black beans. A chicken burger is also a great option.

A gluten free dish for Celiac Disease Awareness Month May 11, 2021 – May is Celiac Awareness Month! Did you know that around 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected by Celiac Disease? Fortunately, there are now a wide variety of foods and recipes that incorporate gluten-free ingredients, that still deliver on taste and flavor. Check out Freshthyme.com for the Quinoa Burrito Bowl recipe and more delicious gluten-free recipes in honor of Celiac Awareness Month.

Fresh Thyme Markets to add New Zealand salmon to seafood selection January 27, 2021 – Natural retailer seeks to elevate seafood offerings available to customers in the Midwest Regal New Zealand King Salmon is expanding U.S. distribution of its award-winning salmon with the launch of its premium Regal Fresh King Salmon at all 70 Fresh Thyme Market grocery stores across 10 Midwest states. Raised in the clean and cold waters of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds, the fresh King salmon will be sold by the pound from the seafood counters at Fresh Thyme Market grocery stores chainwide starting this month. New Zealand’s King Salmon was the first marine-raised salmon to achieve the coveted Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Green/Best Choice rating, which was renewed in 2020. This expands Regal’s partnership with Downers Grove, Ill.-based Fresh Thyme Market, where it has been selling its sliced smoked salmon since early last year. The rollout fits into the fresh-focused retailer’s emphasis on real healthy foods at affordable prices. Both partners see this distribution deal as a unique opportunity to elevate the seafood offerings available to discerning shoppers. “This is something that doesn’t happen every day in the grocery retail world of seafood,” said Jason Resner, Fresh Thyme Market’s vice president of fresh merchandising. “Allowing customers everyday access to this level of high-quality salmon fillet at a value, across 10 Midwest states, is a great way to start the new year.” “We are delighted to become Fresh Thyme Market’s strategic supplier for top-grade salmon,” said Michael Fabbro, New Zealand King Salmon Co.’s vice president, North America. “The chain’s shoppers have already said yes to our smoked salmon line. We know they’ll enjoy adding fresh King filets to their culinary repertoire.” In collaboration with Regal, Fresh Thyme Market grocery stores will provide shoppers with recipes and educational materials about the health benefits of King Salmon, which has one of the highest natural healthy oil contents of all salmon varieties. This oil is a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which have important heart and brain health benefits and give the salmon a luscious, elegant texture. Regal King salmon is sustainably raised and certified Kosher. It will be air freighted fresh from New Zealand to Fresh Thyme Market’s distribution center. Fresh Thyme Market will sell Regal New Zealand King Salmon at an initial promotional price of $12.99 per pound from Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2021, and follow the launch with promotions targeted to key holidays throughout the year. The salmon launch is happening against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the companies noted, which has yielded new opportunities to tap into rising demand for top-quality ingredients from specialty food consumers who are cooking more at home.