Earth Fare, a chain of 50 stores in ten states with 3,000 employees has announced that it will undergo liquidation. The company, owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners since 2006 was overburdened with debt and it did not file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to permit reorganization.

The Earth Fare concept included a commitment to a ‘food philosophy’ by which all products sold were free of additives including hormones, antibiotics, artificial and trans fats, preservatives, colors or flavors.  It appears that the “clean-food” concept together with the natural and organic bias was an inadequate draw to maintain sales volume especially with slim margins attributed to competition.  Earth Fare follows the financial woes of Lucky’s Market and Fareway Market with both chains filing for Chapter 11 and disposing of stores and other assets.