Do It Better

In the mid-2000s, Richard's Foodporium owner John Rorer wrote a booklet about the history of the company and the natural food industry. In it, he says, he shrewdly predicted the blending of mass food markets and natural food markets.

“Darn if we're not seeing it today,” he says.

In Sarasota alone, where the natural food store chain is headquartered, there has been an influx of new food stores selling natural, organic and health-conscious products. The Sprouts Farmers Market grocery chain came to town a few months ago. A Lucky's Market location opened recently. A second Sarasota Whole Foods will be ready for shoppers soon. Those same chains are targeting other parts of the west coast of Florida.