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Sprouts Farmers (SFM) Crafting Growth With Customer Centricity

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Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM - Free Report) has emerged as a standout grocery industry player, driven by strategic innovation, a customer-centric approach and commitment to delivering exceptional value. Through well-executed initiatives, Sprouts Farmers has firmly established itself as a key player in this competitive market, fostering customer loyalty and achieving impressive growth.

A Customer-Centric Approach

Sprouts Farmers has adopted a multifaceted approach to expand its customer base and cater to evolving consumer preferences. Through product innovation, targeted marketing, and competitive pricing, Sprouts Farmers ensures that its offerings resonate with its diverse customer base.

One of the company's standout strategies has been its dedication to natural and organic products. Recognizing the surging demand for healthier options, Sprouts Farmers has expanded its presence in this segment. By simplifying operations, optimizing production, ensuring consistent product availability and introducing smaller-format stores, the company has effectively tapped into this lucrative market.

Additionally, Sprouts Farmers Market has invested in expanding its private-label offerings, particularly in departments like the Sprouts Market Corner Deli and The Butcher Shop. This emphasis on private-label items not only sets the company apart from competitors but also fosters customer loyalty by offering unique and high-quality products. Sprouts brand sales grew 12% and represented 20% of total sales in the second quarter of 2023.

 

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Seamless Omnichannel Excellence

In today's digital age, an omnichannel approach is imperative for success, and Sprouts Farmers has embraced this reality. The company has worked diligently to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience through its website, mobile app, and a supply chain that prioritizes freshness.

Strategic partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash have enabled Sprouts Farmers to enter new markets and bolster its e-commerce presence. The introduction of grocery pickup services and home delivery options at all its stores represents a significant step toward meeting the growing demand for online shopping. The company’s e-commerce sales grew 16% during the quarter, representing 12.1% of total sales.

Again, Sprouts Farmers aims to steadily expand its store footprint. By targeting an annual unit growth rate of 10%, the company is poised to increase its market share. With plans to open 30 new stores in 2023, Sprouts Farmers is demonstrating its unwavering commitment to solidifying its competitive edge.

A Promising Outlook

Sprouts Farmers, being laser-focused, has been redefining strategies and upgrading capabilities to stay ahead of the curve. The company has set optimistic financial projections, reflecting its confidence in its strategic initiatives.

For 2023, Sprouts Farmers expects net sales growth of 5-6% and comparable store sales growth of 2-3%. It now foresees full-year adjusted earnings in the band of $2.68-$2.76 per share, up from $2.39 reported in 2022.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock have outpaced the Zacks Food-Natural Foods Products industry in the past six months. In the said period, the stock has rallied 24%, compared with the industry’s rise of 20.9%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

3 More Stocks Hogging in the Limelight

Here we have highlighted some other top-ranked stocks, namely Grocery Outlet (GO - Free Report) , Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) and Walmart (WMT - Free Report) .

Grocery Outlet, the extreme value retailer of quality, name-brand consumables and fresh products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The expected EPS growth rate for three to five years is 12.3%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Grocery Outlet’s current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 11.2% and 4.9%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. GO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.3%, on average.

Ross Stores, which operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The expected EPS growth rate for three to five years is 11.6%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 8.1% and 19.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. ROST has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%, on average.

Walmart, which operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores and grocery stores, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The expected EPS growth rate for three to five years is 6.6%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart’s current financial-year sales and earnings implies growth of 9.2% and 2.2%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. WMT has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.6%, on average.

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