Earth Fare details layoffs
February 24, 2020 - More than 400 people will lose their jobs when organic grocery chain Earth Fare closes its stores. The company detailed the number of layoffs it expects in notices filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and posted Monday on the DEO website. Today is the last day of business for the store at 7774 113th St. N. in Seminole, where 96 employees are affected. The Oldsmar store, with 64 workers, and the Lutz store, with 87 workers, will close tomorrow. Stores also are closing in Lakewood Ranch (95 workers) and in Ocala (75 workers). Earth Fare was in negotiations to refinance its bank loans and to sell the company, when the potential buyer withdrew, the financing fell through and the largest supplier discontinued product shipments, the company said in its WARN notice.