Whole Foods Market to debut small-format stores, starting in NYC
Whole Foods Market says it is introducing a quick-shop store format designed to provide customers in urban neighborhoods a convenient shopping experience with easier access to the fresh, high-quality offerings.
The new format, called Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, will initially launch in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, with additional locations in New York City to follow, according to a news release. The first store at 1175 Third Ave. is expected to open this year.
Following the New York launch, Whole Foods Market says it plans to bring the format to other cities across the country.
“At our new store formats, we’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles. We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favorites — from grab-and-go meals to that last-minute dinner ingredient — making the early morning or after work grocery trips more efficient and enjoyable,” Christina Minardi, executive vice president growth and development for Whole Foods Market and Amazon, said in a news release. “Expanding our footprint with Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is key to our growth, fostering deeper customer connections, and advancing our purpose to nourish people and the planet.”
Ranging between 7,000-14,000 square feet, the quick-shop stores are about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market store, paving the way for expansion in dense, metropolitan areas. In bustling hubs like Manhattan where proximity matters, these stores will bring Whole Foods Market closer to existing customers, while extending the company’s reach to others in surrounding neighborhoods, the release said.
Whole Foods Market said the new format will provide a convenient option for grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials and a quick, easy destination to pick up ingredients to complete a meal. Though smaller, the stores will still offer an ample selection of fresh, seasonal produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods like 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, according to the release.
The location expected to open this year will be the first Whole Foods Market store in Manhattan to offer Juice & Java, a venue for coffee, tea, fresh pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups and various desserts, the release said. Whole Foods Market said the new-format stores will not replace the traditional store setup.
In 2023, Whole Foods Market added its 17th store in New York City and currently has more than 530 stores in the U.S., U.K. and Canada with more than 75 stores in the pipeline, the release said.
