Carter Breland and Ed Elbrecht opened 14 Carrot Whole Foods in West Columbia in February 1991 because they both felt this side of the river needed a complete natural foods store. By 1996 they had doubled in size! They built a new store, moving 6 1/2 miles down the road, in Lexington. The store officially opened in May 2000.

 

Carter began the macrobiotic diet in 1983 after his doctors gave him no hope that he could beat his cancer.  He ate a strict macrobiotic diet and lived another 14 years. Carter was instrumental in drawing interest and customers to the store. Being a former educator and personnel director, he had many friends and acquaintances. “When the news of his victory over cancer and his substantial weight loss got around," explained Ed, "Folks came into the store and word spread from there." Ed Elbrecht had a blooming sprouts business at that time as well. He had begun eating natural foods since 1980 because it made sense to him and he continued to educate himself about it. Ed and his wife, Janet, met while taking a macrobiotic cooking class and married two years later. Their dream of starting a health food store was a common one, so it was very fortunate that they met Carter at a macrobiotic pot luck dinner. Ed sold his business, Solar Farms, in 1997 to focus more on 14 Carrot.

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In the spring of 2021, Ed Elbrecht and his wife, Janet, retired and sold 14 Carrot to one of our long-time, dedicated employees, Cayle Chettinger, and his wife, Judy. Cayle and the staff of 14 Carrot looks forward to continuing Ed and Carter's mission for years to come! 

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More information about 14 Carrot's new owner, Cayle, coming soon!