Whole Foods Is Opening an Entirely New Type of Store

Whole Foods, now owned by Amazon, is known for its fresh food free from artificial ingredients and preservatives and we couldn’t love it more. And the grocery giant just revealed some news that they’re about to open a brand new type of store that’s all about convenience. Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is rolling out on the Upper East Side in Manhattan with more New York City locations on the way with plans to expand to other cities.

The new format will still have your standard produce section, seafood counter, and health aisle, but there will be a larger focus on grab-and-go meals, snacks, and weekly essentials. There will also be a greater emphasis on the Whole Foods 365 brand which is known for its high-quality ingredients. The first market store will also have Juice & Java, a one stop shop for coffee, tea, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, and soups.

A typical Whole Foods is about 40,000 square feet, but these new locations will fall somewhere between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet. According to Christina Minardi, Executive Vice President Growth & Development, Whole Foods Market & Amazon, the difference won’t be the type of products, but how the products are delivered.

“It’s going to have a really good selection,” Minardi tells The Kitchn. “It’ll have the selection of a typical Whole Foods store and 365 products will be prominent with lots of selections without compromising. It will be a place for a quick shop or a full shop to feed your family.”

Despite the focus on pre-packaged products in this store, Whole Foods remains committed to sustainability, with the team working each day to come up with solutions to eliminate waste, particularly reducing plastic.

“We’re very excited about this project,” explains Minardi. “We are really looking to be best in class in the grocery business. We are looking to continue to grow.”