Sprouts, Sunflower markets complete merger

Sprouts Farmers Market and Sunflower Farmers Market on Tuesday completed their merger.

The new company, which will operate under the Sprouts moniker, operates 144 stores and employs 11,000 people.

In Las Vegas, there are two Sunflower Farmers Market locations that will transform into Sprouts. The conversions will begin in July and occur in phases through the end of the year. The stores will receive new interior and exterior signage, updated fixtures and an expanded merchandise mix.

This merger gives Sprouts projected 2012 annual revenues approaching $2 billion. The addition of the Sunflower stores expands Sprouts' geographic presence to Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma and further extends its presence in California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

Sprouts will remain headquartered in Phoenix, and Sunflower's corporate headquarters in Phoenix and Boulder will be consolidated into the Sprouts office.