Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc (NYSE:NGVC) experienced a 3.6% increase in premarket trading Friday after unveiling plans to open its inaugural Wisconsin store this spring.
The retailer has selected Lake Geneva as the site for the new store. Management says the opening will extend Natural Grocers' footprint into a 22nd state; the company currently operates 168 stores across 21 states and employs more than 4,000 crew members.
To connect with the local community and to recruit personnel for the new location, Natural Grocers will host a meet-and-greet on February 17 and a two-day hiring event on February 18-19. Both events will take place at The Geneva Inn, which is located near the future store site. The company is seeking to fill roles including store manager, assistant store manager and department managers.
Compensation for the roles being recruited ranges from $18 to $79,000 per year, according to the company. In describing its employee-focused programs, Natural Grocers highlights benefits such as its "Vitamin Bucks" program, which provides staff with an additional $1 per hour worked as in-store credit, birthday bonus pay and employee discounts of up to 30% at stores.
Founded in 1955 and still family-operated, Natural Grocers is known for its assortment of organic produce, free-range eggs, pasture-raised dairy and non-GMO bulk goods. Company messaging emphasizes an approach that pairs community engagement with accessible pricing for higher-quality food items.
Lake Geneva is described by the company as a community with a welcoming atmosphere and year-round appeal, attributes the retailer says align with its model of community-focused grocery retailing. The hiring events and community outreach scheduled in February are part of the company’s preparations for the planned spring opening.
Summary: Natural Grocers' stock rose in premarket trading after the chain announced its first Wisconsin store in Lake Geneva, which will expand its presence to a 22nd state. The company has planned community and hiring events in February as it seeks to staff the new location.