Two of the largest remaining independent supermarket retailers focusing on natural and organic products merged this month, creating a 144-store company with projected fiscal 2012 revenues of close to $2 billion. Sunflower Farmers Market and Sprouts Farmers Market announced the merger earlier this year. According to the Sprouts executives, “The addition of the Sunflower stores expands Sprouts’ geographic footprint to 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. The conversions will begin in July and occur in phases through the end of the year. The stores will receive new interior and exterior signage, updated fixtures and an expanded merchandise mix.”

The company also announced that Sprouts will remain headquartered in Phoenix, while Sunflower’s corporate headquarters in Boulder will eventually be consolidated into the Sprouts office.”

One market landscape that will change is right in Sprout’s backyard – it’s hometown of Phoenix. According to data from Chain Store Guide’s 2012 Grocery Market Share Report, the combined company will have 17 locations in the Phoenix Metro CBSA with a projected 2.2% market share. PHOENIX-MESA-GLENDALE, AZ*

*Source: Chain Store Guide’s 2012 Grocery Market Share Report