PHOENIX — Now that Sunflower Markets and Sprouts are merged, the company is planning to opening several stores in the next few years.

Sprouts CEO Doug Sanders said a new store will be opening in southeast Phoenix in January 2013, and another at 16th Street and Glendale Avenue soon after.

“Counting all states that we’re operating in today, we project our growth to be anywhere from 15 to 18 new locations next year and probably 18 to 20 in 2014,” he said. The company is based in Phoenix.

Sanders also said stores will be updated in the coming years.

He added the plan is not to have Sunflower Market turn into Sprouts or vice versa, but to combine the best features of each store.