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Sprouts CEO Jack Sinclair confirmed at the event that the company is still on track to open 30 new stores this year<\/a>, primarily in the grocer\u2019s new small-store model. The success seen with these store openings, which include the grocer\u2019s newly opened location<\/a> in Haddon Township, New Jersey, is giving Sprouts the confidence to expand even more rapidly next year, Sinclair said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The company has focused its store expansion in both new and established markets. California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and the mid-Atlantic have been key drivers, Sinclair noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n Investments in Sprouts\u2019\u00a0supply chain have also been an important factor in this growth, Sinclair said, and these include new distribution centers in Southern California; Denver; and Orlando, Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aside from brick-and-mortar store growth, Sprouts has also been ramping up its e-commerce capabilities. Earlier this week, the grocer confirmed to Grocery Dive that Jim Bahrenburg, former chief information officer for Good Food Holdings, was joining Sprouts as its first-ever chief technology officer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Molloy said the company currently has a \u201clight loyalty program\u201d that can track approximately 13% of Sprouts\u2019 customers. He also stated that, as far back as 2019, the company has struggled internally with what it was willing to spend on a more fleshed-out, comprehensive and personalized online loyalty program.<\/p>\n Over the next six to 12 months, Molloy said Sprouts would work to find the best ways to gather e-commerce information and launch a \u201creal\u201d loyalty program that can provide feedback on its customers as well as streamline its supply chain process. Sprouts\u2019 goal is to launch the loyalty program by the end of 2024.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Sprouts entered the retail media game<\/a> by launching a platform in partnership with Instacart. Executives at the Tuesday event said the grocer will continue finding ways to connect with its \u201chealth enthusiast\u201d customer base.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n