FAQs

Get answers to your Sprouts questions here!

Basics

Q. Why shop at Sprouts Farmers Market?

A. Sprouts is different from other food stores. We are sort of a hybrid between a natural foods store, a farmers market and a conventional supermarket, and as such provide a low-pressure, easy-to-shop, highly affordable steppingstone to better eating. Our bright, beautiful stores offer a unique shopping experience for you to explore a great mix of everyday staples, specialty items and natural foods. Best of all, with our incredible bargains and overall low prices, you'll be able to fill your fridge without emptying your wallet.

Q. Is everything you carry natural or organic?

A. No. We have never believed in a one-size-fits-all approach, and have never wanted to preach or prescribe what you should buy. We offer lots of choices, and leave the selections up to you. We sell plenty of fresh produce, both conventional and organic. Nearly all of our Grocery Department items contain natural ingredients, and so do many of the other products in the store. But we do also carry some great-tasting items in other departments, such as the Bulk, Bakery and Deli Departments, that contain artificial ingredients. Our goal is always to offer great values and find the right balance between quality ingredients, flavor and price.

Q. Is Sprouts really a farmers market? Do you carry more than produce?

A. We are not a traditional farmers market. We are a supermarket that is inspired by farmers markets, and indeed trace our lineage back to a single fruit stand in San Diego. We are fully indoors, and are open 364 days a year. Inside, you'll find mountains of farm-fresh produce, but also thousands of pantry basics, baked goods, deli meats and cheeses, baby and pet foods, high quality all-natural meats and seafood, bins and barrels of bulk foods and so much more. We also offer thousands of gluten-free and alternative options for those with food sensitivities, plus an enormous selection of vitamins, supplements and natural body care products.

Q. Where is my nearest Sprouts store?

A. You can locate your nearest Sprouts store with our store finder; just enter your ZIP or city and state. There are now more than 150 Sprouts stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

Q. What new locations will be opening in 2013?

A. We are continuing to spread our roots at a rapid pace! We'll be celebrating 20 new grand openings in 2013. Click here to find a new store near you.

Deals and Coupons

Q. How can I get the best deals at Sprouts?

A. In addition to great prices every day, there are a dozen ways to save at Sprouts. Click here to learn how to save more in-store and online.

Q. What do you mean by "Double Ad Wednesday?"

A. Because our weekly ads run from Wednesday to Wednesday, it means that on each Wednesday, there are twice as many items on sale. Last week's sale items are in their final day, and this week's sale items are in their first day. This does not mean that the discounts are twice as high; merely that there are twice as many of them.

Q. How often do you run the Gluten-Free Jubilee and Vitamin Extravaganza sales?

A. Each of these sales offers 25 percent off in its respective category, and we hold them at somewhat irregular intervals, from one to four times a year. We do not announce the dates much in advance. Keep your eyes out in our weekly ads, on our sales page and on Facebook.

Q. Do you offer case discounts?

A. Yes. On most products, you will receive an automatic 10 percent discount when you purchase an entire case. This discount is not available during some of the larger promotions, such as the Gluten-Free Jubilee or Vitamin Extravaganza.

Q. How do I get coupons for products at Sprouts?

A. The best way is to sign up for our mailing list. We negotiate a series of great coupons with our vendor partners, and send these out primarily through our monthly In a Nutshell e-newsletter. In 2012, coupons have included a free thinkThin bar, a free pint of Chobani Yogurt, a free Truebar, free Qure Water, $3 off beef and more. You can sign up for the newsletter here. Also, additional monthly electronic coupons are now available for download on this website.

Q. Do you accept electronic coupons? Do I have to print out your e-newsletter coupons or can I just show it to the cashier on my smart phone?

A. We agree that being able to scan our coupons from a mobile device would be ideal, but unfortunately, our registers currently cannot scan the barcode that is required to activate the discount. We are already working toward becoming more digital. Until then, the coupons must be printed and handed to the cashier at the time of purchase.

Produce

Q. How is Sprouts able to keep its fresh produce prices so low?

A. First, our high sales volume. We are larger than many independent stores, and we sell a higher percentage of produce than most larger chain stores. We sell more, waste less, and that helps keeps prices low. Second, our deep roots in the produce business, dating back decades in many cases, enable us to secure great deals from farmers and brokers. Third, because we are a farmers market store, we focus on produce, and are willing to accept lower profit margins on fruits and vegetables than most other stores.

Q. What does "local" mean to Sprouts Farmers Market?

A. “Local food” commonly refers to food produced near the consumer. However, because the definition of “local” is still vague, retailers and consumers are left to decide what local food means to them. At Sprouts, we describe “local” as “made or produced in my state.” The ability to eat “locally” also varies depending on the region’s production capacity: people living in areas that are agriculturally productive year-round may have an easier time sourcing food that is grown in their state than those in arid or colder regions.

For example, much of the produce sold in our California stores are locally grown during the spring and summer. But because small farms do not have the economies of scale and ability to deliver direct, they sell their produce to larger co-ops and brokers who may ship it to Sacramento or Los Angeles before it gets shipped to Sprouts. While Sprouts supports locally-grown produce, our primary focus is getting the freshest, best value fruits and vegetables to your store as quickly as possible.

And while freshness is more likely if food isn't trucked so far, food safety experts say there's no evidence that locally-grown products are safer, especially because small producers often lack the food safety audits more common among big producers.

Our goal is always to offer great value and strike the right balance between quality, flavor and price. But most importantly, your safety is our priority.

Meat

Q. What makes Sprouts meat of such high quality?

A. It's the combination of quality sourcing, product variety, old world butcher's handiwork, and outstanding value pricing. Most conventional supermarkets cut corners in one of these areas, but not Sprouts. We run our Meat Department the same way they used to in the old days – because we know how good it can be when things are done right. Besides, we shop here, too!

We use USDA Choice Natural Beef, because it's more flavorful than the "unnatural" choice and "Select" grade found in so many other stores. To qualify as an Oldtyme Beef supplier, ranches must meet Sprouts natural standards before being considered – with sound animal husbandry techniques, corn-and-grain diets that are tested for pesticide residues and a strict antibiotic and hormone withdrawal program for a minimum of 100 days.

All beef is "wet-aged" a minimum of 14 days to optimize juiciness and tenderness. Our meat is prepared by trained butchers in every store to our exacting specifications, using exclusive Sprouts cutting techniques to "read the grain" and produce the perfect cut.

Q. Do you carry organic meat?

A. Yes. The organic label is still fairly new to meat (it was authorized by the USDA in 2002), but there are several outstanding companies offering organic cuts of meat, such as Sommers Organic Beef and Rosie Organic Chicken, and you will find those at Sprouts.

Q. Why is Sprouts organic beef from Uruguay instead of from the U.S.?

A. Our phenomenal, fresh, grass-fed Sommers Organic Beef is the most flavorful we have ever tried – and we have done a lot of blind taste tests! It comes from cattle raised in Uruguay, the #1 choice for "those in the know" at top U.S. supermarkets. Why Uruguay? There are not nearly enough domestic sources to keep up with demand for organic beef. Uruguay is easily the top supplier of grass-fed organic beef in the U.S., because of their long tradition with livestock and standards that most experts feel are higher than those in the U.S. (Note: Since Uruguay has summer and spring year-round, it is grass fed without the need for any feed to substantiate their diet.) All of our Uruguayan organic beef complies with USDA rules for handling, feeding, processing and testing – and is in fact certified by the highly respected independent Oregon Tilth.

Deli

Q. Why do you pre-slice your Deli meats? Wouldn't it be fresher to cut them on request, the way a lot of other supermarkets do?

A. We have different Deli meat programs in different stores. Some of the stores have the Boar's Head program, which does include slice-to-order meats. But in general, we believe that pre-sliced meats – we slice them every morning – are an excellent choice. That's because, instead of taking, say, a turkey breast out of the refrigerator 20 times a day, whenever a customer requests it, we only take it out once. We slice it all and then seal it immediately, so it is moist and fresh and does not dry out. Moreover, by pre-slicing, we are able to dedicate one slicer to one kind of meat, avoid any cross-contamination issues and reduce the amount of time needed to clean the equipment.

Q. What do you mean by "bulk-cut" cheese?

A. To optimize value, we buy many cheeses in large wheels or blocks, and then cut them down into smaller blocks in store. In contrast, many other supermarkets sell cheese that has been sliced and cut elsewhere, meaning it is older and has had more opportunity to dry out.

Bulk Items

Q. How do I find out how to prepare a bulk item I've purchased?

A. Bulk items' preparation instructions and nutrition information are available online in our Bulk Nutritional Information section.

Vitamins

Q. How do I know which vitamins or supplements to choose?

A. It certainly can be daunting, especially if you are on prescription medications and/or have not been on a supplement plan before. We feature more than 9,000 items in our department, but there are resources there to assist you. First and foremost: our staff. They are well trained, and will be happy to help you by asking the right questions and guiding you in the direction of products or resources that can assist you. In particular, ask about our Essential 4 program. Also, every one of our Vitamin Departments has a computer with software on which you (or our staff) can look up additional product information, possible interactions with prescription meds, and more.

Product Inquiry

Q. How do I find out about a product and whether Sprouts carries it?

A. We don't yet have an online product list, but we are working on it! For now, please call your local Sprouts store for the most up-to-date information on whether an item is in-stock, available for special order, as well as other product-related information. Select your store to find contact information.

Q. How do I recommend or special-order a product?

A. We welcome product recommendations and evaluate these based on overall demand. The best way to submit a request is through our online contact form. We are also delighted to fulfill your special order whenever we can. Just ask the appropriate department manager in your local store either to recommend or to special-order a product.

Company

Q. How do I request a new Sprouts location near me?

A. Sprouts is growing rapidly, and we are opening 20 new stores in 2013. We welcome new store location requests but because of the volume we receive, we cannot respond individually. Store location decisions are made based on a complicated formula that includes location, parking, competition, proximity to existing stores, transportation connectivity to other retail areas, retail synergies within a shopping center, location relative to distribution routes, incentives provided by states/municipalities/landlords and of course, cost. It typically takes two to four years between the identification of a site and the store opening. To suggest a location, please contact us; your interest is greatly appreciated.

Q. What changes have been made now that Henry's, Sun Harvest and Sunflower have merged with Sprouts?

A. In summer 2011, more than 40 Henry's and Sun Harvest stores changed their names and systems to become part of Sprouts. In the summer of 2012, 40 Sunflower stores are also joining the Sprouts family. Post-merger, the best of each company is being incorporated into Sprouts operations, bringing even better products, prices, and programs to you. Among the changes that have happened or that you can expect:

Hundreds of Sprouts private label products have been introduced into former Henry's, Sun Harvest and Sunflower stores, and Sun Harvest and Sunflower private label products have been introduced into the original Sprouts stores
Some stores have received new fixtures and cases, especially in the Bulk Department
All stores (except in Temecula, CA) operate under the Sprouts name
A new warehouse was opened in Colton, CA to serve our huge westernmost store base, resulting in fresher produce
The Sprouts Country Kitchen Meals program has been introduced into all stores, with wholesome, microwaveable options
The In a Nutshell e-newsletter program has been introduced into the former Henry's, Sun Harvest and Sunflower stores, opening up new opportunities to receive coupons and learn more about our products
In most stores, the Sprouts Old Tyme Beef program has been fully rolled out, offering all-natural USDA Choice cuts
The Henry's Heritage Bread and fresh muffin programs are being introduced into many of the original Sprouts stores

Q. Why are the two Sprouts stores in Chula Vista, CA different from your other stores in so many ways? They do not carry some of the things I am used to seeing in other Sprouts stores.

A. The stores in Chula Vista are owned and operated by old friends of the Boney family. We license to them the right to use our Sprouts name. They operate with the highest of standards and honor most of the same deals set up by Sprouts Farmers Market. But they do not carry all of the same products that are in other Sprouts stores or at the same prices, and are not part of the Sprouts gift card or mailing list programs.

Q. How do I submit a compliment or other feedback about my experience at Sprouts?

A. We welcome your feedback, and we take all customer input seriously. Please use contact us, and select the Comment option.

Employment

Q. Why work at Sprouts Farmers Market?

A. Sprouts Farmers Market is firmly rooted in its mission of "healthy living for less." It is a great place to work because you can feel good about the products you are selling. Sprouts encourages a friendly, healthy, upbeat working environment, and is proud to provide a competitive compensation package. Moreover, it is a growing company that has been expanding rapidly and adding thousands of new jobs even as the national economy continues to sputter. Learn more about working at Sprouts.

Q. How do I apply for a posted position at Sprouts?

A. Please see job postings and apply online on our careers page.

Community and Giving

Q. How do I request a donation or sponsorship from Sprouts?

A. Sprouts is committed to helping support deserving educational and non-profit organizations in the communities in which we operate through in-kind support. Learn more about our corporate giving philosophy and policies, and complete our Donation Application, on our community involvement page.

Q. How can my organization raise money through the Sprouts scrip program?

A. Sprouts' Corporate Scrip Program offers community non-profit organizations a 5 percent discount on our gift cards, thus promoting healthy lifestyles while helping to raise funds for these organizations. To learn more and get started with scrip for your organization, visit our community involvement page.

Vendors

Q. As a vendor, how can I apply to become a supplier to Sprouts?

A. Sprouts regularly reviews interested new vendors and new products for every department. Suppliers must meet significant capacity, distribution, insurance, marketing and other requirements in order to support our stores. To contact us to potentially do business with Sprouts please send an email to our Buying Team. Sprouts also brings a significant contingent to Expo West in Anaheim each March, and that is a good place to meet with us and show us your products.

Website

Q. How do I submit a comment, question or technical issue about the website itself?

A. Please contact us via our customer contact form to provide your input. We cannot reply to all comments but we do read them, and greatly appreciate your feedback as we continuously improve our digital interactive tools to better serve you. This website will take on added functionality in the near future, and we welcome suggestions about ways to improve its usefulness and ease of navigation.

Anything else?

Q. What if I have a question not answered here?

A. We'd love to help. Please complete our contact us form. We aim to reply to inquiries as quickly and as helpfully as possible. We cannot reply to all comments, but we greatly appreciate your input as we seek to improve the Sprouts experience.

Can't Find an Answer?

Don't worry – we'll help you out. Contact us today for assistance, or to share your thoughts, ideas, comments or concerns. We'd love to hear from you. Contact us now.

More Savings

Whether you're online or in-store, we've made it easy for you to save at Sprouts.

Put more money in your pocket while you're putting healthy meals on your table with weekly specials, coupons, promotions and more. Click here to learn how.

Nutshell