What began as a small roadside produce operation more than two decades ago has grown into one of the Sarasota-Manatee region’s most recognizable grocery brands.
Detwiler’s Farm Market now operates six stores across Sarasota and Manatee counties and is entering its most significant period of expansion yet, with new locations planned in Bradenton and North Port and major investments in the infrastructure needed to support future growth.
The family-owned company’s growth provides a notable example of a local retailer successfully competing in a grocery market dominated by much larger national and regional chains.
From Produce Stand to Grocery Chain
Detwiler’s story began in the early 2000s, when Henry and Natalie Detwiler sold produce and other goods from a small tent in Sarasota.
After losing the lease on an early Fruitville-area operation in 2009, the family opened its Palmer Boulevard market. That location became the foundation for what followed.
Venice came in 2013, followed by University Parkway in 2015 and eventual expansion into Manatee County. Today, the company has locations in Sarasota, Venice, Palmetto and Bradenton.
Rather than attempting to replicate a traditional supermarket, Detwiler’s has built its following around fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery and deli offerings combined with competitive pricing and a distinctive farm-market atmosphere.
Two More Stores on the Way
The company is now preparing to open its seventh location at Braden River Plaza in Bradenton.
Detwiler’s is transforming a former Winn-Dixie into an approximately 43,000-square-foot grocery store at 4502 E. State Road 64, with an opening planned for fall 2026. The project also demonstrates the opportunities created by repositioning former big-box grocery space for growing retail concepts.
An even larger expansion is planned farther south.
Detwiler’s has signed on for a 52,000-square-foot store at 5001 N. Sumter Boulevard in North Port, near Interstate 75. Expected to open in late 2028, it will be the company’s largest location and its first store designed and constructed entirely from the ground up.
The North Port store will anchor a new retail development on approximately 35 acres, positioning Detwiler’s within one of Sarasota County’s fastest-growing communities.
Building Infrastructure for Future Growth
Detwiler’s expansion extends beyond its retail locations.
In September 2025, the company opened a new 133,000-square-foot distribution center and home office at Florida International Tradeport in Palmetto. The facility consolidates distribution for the existing stores while providing additional capacity for future expansion.
That investment represents an important step in the company’s evolution. Developing a centralized distribution network gives Detwiler’s the infrastructure needed to support a larger geographic footprint while maintaining greater control over its fresh-food supply chain.
The company has also recently acquired approximately 1.03 acres adjacent to its existing Palmetto store for $1.06 million, providing another potential opportunity to expand its presence in the market.
A Southwest Florida Retail Success Story
From a commercial real estate perspective, Detwiler’s growth illustrates the strength of a regional retailer that has developed enough customer loyalty to become an increasingly significant grocery anchor.
Its expansion strategy also reflects the growth patterns of the Sarasota-Manatee market. The company is adding stores along major corridors and moving deeper into communities experiencing substantial residential growth.
North Port is particularly significant. Its population increased from 74,793 in the 2020 Census to an estimated 96,551 residents by July 2025, helping create demand for additional grocery, restaurant and service retail.
Detwiler’s has indicated that it is also evaluating opportunities for additional expansion farther north, suggesting the current pipeline may only represent the next stage of the company’s growth.
What began as a roadside produce tent has evolved into a growing regional grocery operation with new stores, its own distribution infrastructure and an increasingly significant commercial real estate footprint.
As Southwest Florida continues to add residents and new development, Detwiler’s Farm Market has positioned itself as both a product of that growth and one of the local brands helping shape the region’s evolving retail landscape.
