Cianciarulo steps down at Earth Fare

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Ashvegas grocery store chain Earth Fare has announced a change in its leadership. The Charlotte newspaper has it:

Michael Cianciarulo, longtime chief executive of Asheville specialty grocer Earth Fare, stepped down Friday after 10 years in the job.

Cianciarulo was replaced by Jack Murphy, who co-founded Fresh Fields Natural Grocery, a chain that Whole Foods purchased in the mid-1990s. Murphy has been on the Earth Fare board for about a year. Cianciarulo will remain on the company’s board of directors.

Cianciarulo has led Earth Fare through a critical time in the company’s history, as the chain sought to expand beyond two stores. Today, Earth Fare has 13 stores in three states, including two in Charlotte, and has revenues of more than $100 million.

“Anytime you’ve been doing something for a long time you can get tired,” company spokesman Troy DeGroff said. “He let employees know in April that he would be leaving.”