The Fresh Market

When it comes to food, fresh is best. The Fresh Market operates about 150 full-service upscale specialty grocery stores in some 25 US states, from Florida to Wisconsin.

As the name suggests, the chain specializes in perishable goods (two-thirds of sales), including fruits and vegetables, meat, and seafood. The stores average 21,000 square feet, about a third to half the size of a conventional supermarket.

However, customers won’t find the nonfood items sold in most grocery stores these days, such as cleaning and cooking supplies. Founded by husband-and-wife team Ray and Beverly Berry, who opened their first store in 1982, The Fresh Market went public in 2010.