DENVER and STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage^® (NYSE: NGVC) opens its 31st store in Colorado today with its newest location in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Natural Grocers is a grocery chain based in Denver that offers only natural and organic products with the highest standards at affordable prices, giving Steamboat residents and visitors a broad selection of healthful, fresh, organic and natural food, supplement, home and body care choices.

As part of its core values, Natural Grocers offers only USDA certified organic produce and meats from animals raised naturally without the use of antibiotics or hormones. Also the grocery chain has an extensive supplement and body care department, a large selection of gluten-free and other special dietary need products. In addition, the store offers a huge selection of delicious organic and natural groceries free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated oils. 

For more than 55 years, the Isely family has managed Natural Grocers. Part of the family's commitment to maintaining a true natural foods store is to avoid selling any products that contain artificial ingredients such as sweeteners, flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils or produce grown with synthetic pesticides. See: "What We Won't Sell and Why." Today the awareness of the benefits of eating natural foods is higher than ever and continues to grow, helping Natural Grocers expand to 58 stores in 12 states.

"Steamboat Springs is loved by residents and tourists for its natural beauty and recreation, so an affordable grocery store offering healthy foods and supplements is an extension of the culture already there," said Kemper Isely, Natural Grocers co-President. "We're thrilled to be part of the Steamboat community today."

Nutritional Coaching
In addition to only offering foods that meet the Isely family's high standards for quality and health, Natural Grocers also offers free nutritional coaching - from individualized sessions, to meal planning, to general questions about nutrition and health. Every Natural Grocers has a credentialed Nutritional Health Coach^SM in-house and all of the stores' staff is trained to help shoppers find products and resources to support optimal health. The company also offers free seminars and speakers of interest to the community (schedule available in the store and online at http://www.naturalgrocers.com/nutrition/nutrition-seminars).

Eco-friendly concept
True to the Natural Grocers philosophy, the new store was retrofitted for use at 355 Lincoln Avenue, where it was previously a furniture and home décor store. To fit Natural Grocers, the space was designed with a variety of energy-efficient features including motion light sensors, 100 percent post-consumer content tiles, polished concrete flooring and commercial-grade LED lights.

In addition, Natural Grocers is 100% shopping bag free (no paper, no plastic). In the event customers forget to bring their reusable bags, Natural Grocers offers free recycled boxes; but of course, Natural Grocers does sell inexpensive reusable shopping bags as well.

Local sourcing, local community
Natural Grocers is dedicated to its local communities, stocking local products whenever possible. Natural Grocers is always looking for new local products and is eagerly willing to consider any new local products, which can be reviewed by completing a product submission form found on the web site at www.NaturalGrocers.com.

In addition, the Steamboat store has a Community Room where residents can come and get a free cup of coffee, tea and free Wi-Fi access. There is also a demo kitchen for cooking presentations and available meeting space. Contact the store, or visit the Natural Grocers website, for details of the upcoming events in the new kitchen and meeting space.

Starting September 14, Natural Grocers at 355 Lincoln Avenue in Steamboat Springs from Monday through Saturday will be opening at 8:56 a.m. and closing at 8:04 pm, and on Sunday will be opening at 9:56 a.m. and closing at 6:06 p.m. The store phone number is 970 871 0100.

Opening Week 
Natural Grocers' week-long opening celebration for Steamboat will take place September 14 – 22. Shoppers can enjoy tasty treats, free samples and giveaways, including:

• iPad compliments of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
• iPod Nano from Country Life Vitamins
• $500 Natural Grocers Gift Card donated by NOW Foods
• GPS compliments of Garden of Life
• Wii Sport Console from Nature's Way / Enzymatic Therapy
• Tokyo Citizen Collapsible Bike from Honest Tea
• Gift box of selected meat cuts from Wild Idea Buffalo
• Representatives from premier supplement companies, grocery, natural cosmetic and body care beauty lines will be on-hand for consultations and demonstrations
• Free chair massage on specified days -- check store posters for date & time
• Free daily gift basket giveaways
• Lots of free reusable grocery bag giveaways to help ease shoppers' transition to Natural Grocers' paper and plastic bag-free commitment (**Natural Grocers will also donate a nickel to the local food bank every time a customer checks out with his or her own bags.)

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Since 1955, Colorado based, family operated, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has grown from the "Mom & Pop" grass-roots business, started by Margaret & Philip Isely. Their children have now grown the stores to a national chain with locations in Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, Montana, Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska and Arizona -- employing approximately 1600 employees to date and still run by their children. The original family goal to offer each product at an Every Day Affordable Price ^SM is a foundation of the business, enabling customers to afford the products necessary to maintain their own healthcare. Education and Customer Service are cornerstones of Natural Grocers, as evidenced by the company's in-store nutritional support programs, free Nutritional Health Coaches and free public health & wellness seminars.

Natural Grocers provides a variety of 18,000 – 21,000 organic and all natural products, selling only USDA certified organic produce, all natural body care products and one of the largest selections in the country of vitamins, minerals and herbs, combined with a knowledgeable and trained staff. Visit www.NaturalGrocers.com for more information and other store locations.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in, or referenced by, this release that are "forward-looking statements" are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other financial and operating information.

For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with our business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of our SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our S-1 registration statement, copies of which may be obtained by contacting investor relations at 303-986-4600 or by visiting our website at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com.

All information in this release is as of September 13, 2012. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.

SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage