
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993                   TAG: 9311030081
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

HEALTH-FOOD STORE CLOSES IN RICHMOND

Fresh Fields Inc. has closed its only Richmond-area store, saying it wasn't a natural market for the health-food supermarket chain.

Employees at the store in suburban Henrico County were told of the closing Monday morning, hours before the shutdown.

The privately held company will lay off most of its 85 employees, but some will be moved to other company stores, said Mark Ordan, president and chief executive officer.

Citing flat sales since opening in February and the expense of operating just one outlet in the area and no prospects for more, Rockville, Md.-based Fresh Fields decided it was time to withdraw. Ordan said the move will allow the company to concentrate on its 12 stores in four other markets.

Fresh Fields has seven stores in the Washington, D.C., area; two stores in the Chicago market; two in Philadelphia; and one in Charlottesville. More stores are planned for the Chicago and Philadelphia areas.

by CNB