Jonathan Lawrence is the vice president of merchandising - grocery and natural living and a founding member of Fresh Thyme Market, the Downers Grove, Illinois-based specialty grocery store with 71 stores throughout the Midwest.
In his role, Lawrence oversees all elements of merchandising for grocery, dairy, frozen, bulk, alcohol, vitamins, body care and general merchandise.
Lawrence has over 25 years in natural foods industry. Getting his first taste or retail in his family’s chain of stores in the Phoenix area called Arizona Health Foods. AHF would eventually grow to 14 stores with over 100 employees before it was sold in 2003.
Inheriting the entrepreneurial spirit, he partnered up with his family in 2005 to start natural foods CPG, Arizona Nutritional Sciences where they developed the brand PlantFusion, one of the first multi-sourced plant-based protein powders on the market.
In 2011, Lawrence went back to retail, first as an operator and then as a merchant with Sunflower Farmers Market and then Sprouts. During his time at Sprouts, he helped align the pricing, assortment and promotional strategy in the supplement category across all banners during Sprouts’ multiple acquisitions throughout the southwest.
His experience at every level of the business has been instrumental in preparing him for his current role at Fresh Thyme. Lawrence earned a B.A. in Sociology from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.