FIRST LOOK: WHOLE FOODS MARKET OPENS NEW, SMALLER STORE FORMAT

Whole Foods Market has unveiled its new retail concept, called Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, with a store in New York City.

Located in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the 9,101-sq.-ft. store is designed to bring the freshest, high-quality ingredients to customers with a convenience that fits their fast-paced urban lifestyles, the natural and organic foods retailer said.

Two other locations are in the works, with one in Manhattan’s East Village’s StuyTown development and the other in its Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.

Whole Foods revealed in March that it planned to debut a “quick-shop,” smaller-store concept.

The new format will range between 7,000 to 14,000 sq. ft., which is about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 40,000 sq. ft. store.

It paves the way for Whole Foods to expand in dense, metropolitan areas.

The new Upper East Side outpost features more than 400 local products from 100-plus Northeast-based suppliers.

The assortment includes: single-serve hot bowls and meals; fresh, seasonal produce; meat and seafood; prepared foods such as sandwiches and pre-packed meals; breads; alcohol; and supplements, as well as a handpicked range of local specialties and the 365 by Whole Foods Market brand.

It also boasts the first Juice & Java venue in New York City, with a menu that includes coffee, tea, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups and various desserts.

“Opening this first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop location — which was specially tailored for the needs of an urban market like New York City —  marks a special milestone for our company,” said Christina Minardi, executive VP growth & development, Whole Foods Market & Amazon.

“Whole Foods Market has been in New York City for more than 20 years now, and it’s one of the reasons I’m personally excited to be here today not only growing our footprint in this community but providing an entirely new shopping format to better serve New Yorkers.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to support local communities, Whole Foods Market is contributing in-kind product to The Bowery Mission, City Harvest and Gotham Food Pantry.

The three organizations will also pick up excess food from the Lenox Hill location as part of Whole Foods Market’s Grocery Rescue Program and The Bowery Mission and City Harvest are Nourishing our Neighborhoods van partners.

Whole Foods Market, which is owned by Amazon, has more than 530 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

View article source here.