The Fresh Market to bring 'high-quality food' to Cedar Rapids

A gourmet supermarket chain has selected Cedar Rapids to house its first store in Iowa.

The Fresh Market is set to open sometime in late 2014, the retailer said, and will be located at 180 Collins Rd. NE, across from Lindale Mall.

The North Carolina-based company has 144 stores and operates in 26 states. A Fresh Market spokesman said the move is a part its Midwest expansion plans.

The stores will add 90 jobs, the company said.

The announcement follows talk of New Pioneer Co-op considering opening a third location, possibly in Cedar Rapids, where the co-op has 5,000 member customers. The co-op's current stores are in Iowa City and Coralville.

The Fresh Market store is projected to be between 18,000 to 25,000 square feet and filled with what the company boasts as a mix of organic and local fresh, quality foods.

The Fresh Market stores feature a meat and seafood counter, a deli, an in-store bakery, produce, specialty grocery items, bulk foods, flowers and wine and coffee.