Exclusive: Fresh Market founder explores bid for company

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Berry, who has a 4.1 percent in the company, has reached out to several buyout firms, seeking a private equity partner in order to put together an offer for Fresh Market, the people said this week.

Berry's son-in-law, Michael Barry, who previously served as Fresh Market's chief financial officer, is also considering rolling his 6.4 percent stake in the deal, the people added.

No offer to Fresh Market has been made and none may materialize, the people cautioned, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.

Fresh Market, Berry and Barry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Fresh Market operates 176 stores in 27 states across the United States. It has a market capitalization of $1.2 billion.

(Reporting by Lauren Hirsch and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr)