The Voice-Tribune - January 29, 2003
St. Mathews’ residents now have almost 28,000 square feet of healthier food options.
Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, a leading national natural and organic food retailer, opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m., at 4600 Shelbyville Road in the newly revamped Shelbyville Road Plaza.
The store features a large selection of natural and organic food, a full-service meat and seafood counter, bakery, deli counter, dietary supplements, household and body care products, cheese shop and a café for dine-in or carry-out.
With the large variety of departments, including general grocery and frozen foods, this health-conscious store will offer one-stop shopping, not just a place to buy your produce or supplements.
“We are a full-service supermarket,” said regional marketing coordinator, Leesa Carter. “The only difference is that everything is either natural, organic, or environmentally-sustaining.”
The produce section offers more than 175 different fresh organic produce items, many grown by local and regional farmers. Exotic and hard-to-find produce items are promised, and more than 70 percent of the fruits and vegetables are organic. The floral department offers flowers and plants from local greenhouses and growing regions around the world.
The meat and seafood department features fresh fish delivered daily and 100 different varieties of fresh meat and poultry products, raised without the use of antibodies, growth hormones or foods containing animal by-products.
Cheeses from 20 countries and fresh marinated and stuffed olives highlight the cheese and olive bar.
The Wild Café’s menu includes wraps, Panini sandwiches, deli sandwiches, pizzas, sushi, specialty and regular coffees, juice, smoothies and tea. There are many vegetarian, and even some vegan offerings. Prices range from $2.79 for a slice of pizza to $5.99 for a sandwich or Panini. Soup and salad bars are priced by quantity or weight.
Beer and wines are imported from around the world, and an all-natural selection is offered.
Wild Oats is based in Boulder, Colo., and the Louisville location is the chain’s 101st store. Jeff Weaver is the store director, coming to Louisville from a similar position in St. Louis. He is one of only a few transfers; about 98 percent of the 120 employees were hired locally, according to Carter. There still are about 10 positions to fill.
Wild Oats accepts manufacturer’s coupons, and store hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The phone number is 721-7373.