DENVER and MISSOULA, Mont., Oct. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage^® (NYSE: NGVC) opens its 60^th store on October 30th with its newest location in Missoula, Montana. The Missoula store at 2530 South 3rd Street West will be the company's second Montana location, after opening in Billings earlier this summer. Natural Grocers is a grocery chain based in Colorado that offers only natural and organic products with the highest standards at affordable prices, giving Missoula residents and visitors a broad selection of healthful, fresh, organic and natural food, dietary 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. The grocery chain has an extensive dietary 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 colors, 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 12 states.

"For decades Missoula has been an epicenter of active and healthy lifestyles. Our new store product offerings and outreach programs fit perfectly with the city's culture, residents and visitors," said Kemper Isely, Natural Grocers co-President. "We're excited to be growing our presence in Montana." 

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 built using green features such as energy-efficient motion light sensors, 100 percent post-consumer content tiles, high efficiency heat-exchange systems, polished concrete flooring and commercial-grade LED lights.

In addition, Natural Grocers checkout is 100% free of disposable shopping bags (no paper, no plastic). In the event customers forget to bring their reusable bags, Natural Grocers offers free recycled boxes or sturdy affordable totes.

Local sourcing, local community
Natural Grocers is dedicated to its local communities, stocking locally-made 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 Missoula store has a Community Room where residents can come and get a free cup of coffee or tea and use 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 demonstration kitchen and meeting space.

Natural Grocers will be opening at 8:56 a.m. and closing at 8:04 pm from Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday will be opening at 9:56 a.m. and closing at 6:06 p.m. The store phone number is (406) 728-2100.

Opening Week
Natural Grocers' week-long opening celebration for Missoula will take place through November 4th. Shoppers can enjoy tasty treats, free samples and giveaways such as:

• 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
• Unique Jan Sport Super Nova backpack filled with Honest Tea products
• 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 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.

SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.