Fresh Thyme Market: Friends & Family VIP Event Recap

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a full-service specialty retailer focusing on value-priced fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings. Fresh Thyme is passionate about making “local” a focus for each store, from the products and produce to the people they staff. Their mission is to improve the way our communities eat by combining the spirit of a weekend farmers market, and the convenience of a neighborhood store, with the nutritious offerings of a natural food marketplace. Fresh Thyme is scheduled to open 60 stores by 2019. 

It boasts an extensive produce department with 170 natural, organic local fruit and vegetable offerings.

I especially like their fresh cold press juice bar using organic produce!

Their natural meat department stocked with all natural meat and fresh seafood, including grass-fed and organic meat.

They also offer over 12 varieties of natural, handmade sausage – made in-store daily. Fresh Thyme’s recipes use all natural seasonings with no MSG.

Fresh Thyme is all about keeping you healthy, which is why they have over 7000 varieties of vitamins, supplements and natural body care products available.

Each store includes a Fresh Thyme Kitchen featuring prepared salads and meals as well as a full salad bar, made-to-order sandwiches and a bakery featuring artisan breads.

Beer and wine lovers will enjoy the Hops & Grapes department that has an expansive selection of wine and local craft beers. You can even create your own 6 pack of various craft beers and ciders!

There are over 300 bins of natural and organic self-serve bulk items. Bulk items range from grains, granola, beans, snack items and more.

Coffee lovers will appreciate the small batch, locally roasted premium bulk coffee beans.

And with over 1,600 Gluten Free products in every store, there is something for everyone!

Fresh Thyme Market believes in cultivating relationships with local organizations, schools and not-for-profit groups in each community they serve. During the month of October, all Chicago area stores are selling limited- edition pink reusable shopping bags with 65 cents from each bag sale benefiting The Pink Agenda to support breast cancer research and television host Giuliana Rancic’s FAB-U-WISH initiative. 

Each of the three store grand openings will have a grocery giveaway (valued at $50 or more) to the first 250 shoppers in line. Lines typically form several hours in advance, so interested shoppers are advised to arrive early. Festivities will continue with free samples, vendor demos, live music, face paintings and other entertainment throughout the weekend. Shoppers can visit each store’s individual Facebook page for a full list of events scheduled at each location.

Learn more at freshthyme.com or keep in touch by liking them on Facebook and following them on Twitter!