Down to Earth Kapolei Celebrates Grand Opening July 2nd!

Photo: Down to Earth Kapolei Storefront

New 10,000 Sq. Ft. Location Will Be Company's New Flagship Store; Day-Long Celebration to Feature Events, Live Entertainment, Sale Offering up to 50% Off

Down to Earth will celebrate the Grand Opening of its sixth store in Hawaii at Kapolei Commons on Saturday July 2, 2011. The new 10,000 square foot Kapolei location will be Down to Earth's largest store and employ 50 people. It will be the company's new flagship store.

“Our expansion is in response to consumer demand,” says Mark Fergusson, Chief Vegetarian Officer of Down to Earth. “Customers from Kapolei and Makakilo have been asking us to come to their neighborhood for years. We’re thrilled to be able to do that as our mission is to help improve the health of Hawaii’s island communities."

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Down to Earth to Kapolei Commons and share their vision to promote better health for local residents and visitors alike" says Duncan MacNaughton, Chairman of The MacNaughton Group, which is developing Kapolei Commons with joint venture partners Kobayashi Group and Craig Realty Group.

The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. An all-day celebration will feature cooking classes, nutritional seminars, free food sampling, prizes, a rock climbing wall and other fun-filled activities for keiki as well as lots of free food sampling. Highlights of the day include health talks by Down to Earth Wellness Manager Carmela Wolf at 9:15 am, renowned Hawaii physician Dr. Terry Shintani at 10:00 am, and at noon there will be an Extravaganza Vegetarian Meal Demo by the Down to Earth Love Life! Community Outreach Team. Paula Fuga will entertain the afternoon crowd from 2:00 to 3:30 and the Mana Maoli Collective featuring John Cruz will take the stage in the evening from 6:00 to 8:00!

There will be a huge day-long sale where customers will save up to 50% off 100 of the company's best-selling items. Customers will find great deals on popular brands such as Amy & Brian's Coconut Juice, Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap, Tofurky Italian Sausage, Sambazon Acai Fruit Pack, and more. They will also get 30% off of Down to Earth’s award-winning vegetarian hot table and salad bar. See the PDF below for a list of sale items.

Focus on Improving Health

"Down to Earth was founded at Wailuku Maui over 30 years ago with the goal of helping to improve the health of Hawaii’s island communities," says Fergusson. "This goal still guides us today, as we provide organic and natural foods and products at down to earth prices and promote a healthy vegetarian lifestyle."

"Eating delicious ALL VEGETARIAN Organic & Natural food is good for you and the environment! Our aim is to help you: live longer, have more energy, maintain healthy weight, feel good and look great, and save money on health costs."

Fergusson explains that to support a lifetime of good health, Down to Earth carries a wide range of natural and organic foods and groceries including dairy products and local fresh organic produce. They also have bulk foods, which allow customers to purchase the amount they want and save unnecessary packaging and marketing costs on a wide variety of beans, gains and flours, cereals, candies, and more. They have natural and organic body care products and truly green household items and, he says, the most complete range of all-vegetarian and natural, vitamins, supplements, herbs, and homeopathic remedies available in Hawaii.

The Kapolei store will have its own first-class kitchen for Down to Earth's signature all-vegetarian deli. "It will feature a hot table with delicious entrees and acclaimed salad bar, fresh juices and smoothies, a great made-to-order sandwich menu, fresh grab-and-go options and a wide variety of mouth watering desserts made daily," he explains.

"One of the nicest things about this store is that it's going to have a community room. Here's where our "Love Life! Community Outreach Team" will conduct free vegetarian cooking classes and nutritional seminars. The cooking classes will be held weekly, and we will be making the room available to local organizations that need a place to meet."

New Look

The Kapolei store has the new “look” of the company’s remodeled stores on King Street in Honolulu, and on Hamakua Drive in Kailua. The graphics feature its new logo that emphasizes the company’s local roots and its universally appealing slogan, “Love Life!”—which for Down to Earth includes the meaning “Love animals, don’t eat them.”

The décor also includes the prominent display of a message, developed by University of Hawaii Hawaiian language experts, “’E Mālama I Ka `Āina, E Ola Pono”, translated as, “Cherish the Land, Live in Health and Harmony”. Other messages encourage Down to Earth customers to consider that “The single most important thing an individual can do for their health, for the environment, and for the sake of the innocent animals is to adopt a vegetarian diet.”

“The success of Down to Earth has been based on our unshakable commitment to both our vegetarian mission and helping our customers improve their health,” adds Fergusson. “We have earned the loyalty of our customers due to our uncompromising dedication to these commitments. We remain a community-based business whose mission is to promote healthy living among our island communities, respect for the environment, sustainable organic farming, and a vegetarian lifestyle. Yet, you don’t need to be a vegetarian to shop at Down to Earth. Everyone can benefit from the all-vegetarian, organic and natural products that Down to Earth provides.”

Preferred Local Natural Food Store

Even with increasing competition, Fergusson believes customers will continue to choose Down to Earth as their preferred natural food store. He says there are many reasons for his confidence:

The first is health. Down to Earth is Hawaii’s leading provider of healthy great tasting foods. We don’t sell products that are bad for people. Customers know that Down to Earth’s primary concern is to help its customers enjoy better health, and to assist those who are struggling with serious health issues, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity make a change to a healthier diet and lifestyle.”

Value: Down to Earth offers great values on natural foods and sells only healthy products that are good for you and the environment. We offer everyday low prices and great savings on a big selection of sale items.”

We understand the local market. We have served health-conscious islanders for over thirty years, with natural and organic products, free cooking classes, nutritional seminars, and community outreach. Our customers know they can rely on us for quality products, great value, and excellent service from our friendly and knowledgeable staff. No amount of glitz, ostentatious décor, and fancy gourmet foods can take the place of deep local roots and knowledge of local tastes, and a commitment to helping Hawaii make better, healthier food choices.

And, many of Down to Earth’s customers are vegetarians who aren’t comfortable shopping in a store that sells and promotes meat. They know that eating meat is bad for their health and the environment and reject the notion that slaughtering animals for the purpose of eating them is ever humane. And those moving towards a vegetarian lifestyle appreciate the health and environmental benefits, too. For example, a vegetarian diet supports a “green” lifestyle since it is dramatically more effective in reducing global warming than any other action an individual can make in their daily life. As a 2006 United Nations report said, the livestock industry generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.”

Finally, Down to Earth supports local businesses. Each year we purchase about $2.5 million in products from 400 local vendors including over 150 farmers and growers. The trust and loyalty we have developed with them means we will continue to have access to the freshest local fruits and vegetables.”

Excellent Prospects for Growth

“As a result,” Fergusson says, “Down to Earth is and will continue to thrive in a marketplace that changed considerably with the arrival of a mainland Goliath. We look forward to increased interest in organic and natural foods in Hawaii. Expanding the market for healthful foods will benefit the people of Hawaii and we expect our business to grow.”

For more information visit www.downtoearth.org