Gary Cha knew his bulgur wheat from his quinoa before natural products were trendy.
The co-owner of Yes! Organic Market, the eight-store grocery chain in Washington, D.C., has survived through the arrival of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and is prepared to face off against Wal-Mart when the big-box competitor soon starts opening locations in the District.
Cha’s company got to the place of strength it holds, with around 120 employees (from five when it started) and more than $30 million in annual sales, by growing gradually, taking risks on edgy neighborhoods — and with the help of a Small Business Administration loan program, which helped the business open new stores at key moments in its history.
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