New Naperville market showcases natural foods
Shoppers at the new Fruitful Yield natural foods market in Naperville won't find any gloomy cashiers absent-mindedly scanning item after item, the store's manager says.
Part of what the 13th location of the Lombard-based chain offers is a friendly staff with knowledge to explain products such as organic produce, homeopathic cold medicine, goat's milk, cheese made from almonds or natural cleaning supplies, says store manager Nick Dinardo.
“Everyone is passionate about the industry,” Dinardo said about the 15 employees of the new store at 1512 N. Naper Blvd. “They walk the walk and they're very, very involved in the environment and being healthy, just doing the right thing.”
Fruitful Yield opened last month in Naperville and is hosting a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the store. The first 200 customers will get goody bags and anyone is invited to a free workshop at 11 a.m. to explain the meaning of one term often tossed around in the health food industry: non-GMO, which stands for genetically modified organisms.
“It's going to be an eye-opening experience,” Dinardo said.
Some of the store's carefully selected local suppliers, such as the Sweet Ali's line of gluten-free desserts based in Hinsdale and the Chicago-based Soul Vegan line of sandwiches and meals, will be giving samples during the event as well.
But don't expect the sampling to end then, Dinardo says. The store always has a small table near the front with a few highlighted items for customers to taste, such as sunflower cookies, dried sugar snap peas or seasoned almond clusters.
Fruitful Yield sells organic and natural foods, supplements, sports nutrition items, herbs, probiotics and plenty of foods free of wheat, soy and gluten — common irritants that many people look to avoid in their diets.
“We carry healthy foods that taste good,” Dinardo said.
At 5,000 square feet, the store in the Tower Cross Shopping Center on Naper Boulevard just north of Ogden Avenue isn't a megaplex.
“It's not like you're wandering through a giant warehouse,” Dinardo said.
But it is large enough to offer Naperville's health-conscious shoppers many options they won't easily find elsewhere, Dinardo says, such as elk and buffalo meat, gluten-free doughnuts, organic juices and coconut flour.
“I see people coming in and they're just so happy that we're around and they have a spot to get healthy foods that are affordable,” Dinardo said.
Aside from the new Fruitful Yield in Naperville, other nearby locations are in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Elmhurst, Lombard, Schaumburg, Darien and Joliet.
If You Go
What: Fruitful Yield Naperville grand opening
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: 1512 N. Naper Blvd., Naperville
Who: Open to the public
Cost: Free
Info: fruitfulyield.com or (630) 536-8265