Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market has introduced a new, ‘quick-shop’ store format in the US.
The new format, called Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, is promoted as providing customers in urban neighbourhoods a quick, convenient shopping experience with easier access to the fresh, high-quality offerings they expect from Whole Foods Market.
Daily Shop will initially launch on the Upper East Side in Manhattan with additional locations in New York to follow. The first store, located at 1175 Third Avenue, is expected to open this year. Following the New York launch, Whole Foods Market plans to bring the format to other cities across the country.
Ranging between 650 and 1300sqm, the stores are said to be about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 3716sqm Whole Foods Market store.
Customers will find grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and ingredients to complete a meal. Though smaller, Daily Shop will still offer Whole Foods Market favourites, including 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. In addition, the location that is 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.
“At our new store formats, we’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles,” says Whole Foods Market & Amazon Executive Vice President Growth & Development Christina Minardi.
“We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favourites – from grab-and-go meals to that last-minute dinner ingredient – making the early morning or after work grocery trips more efficient and enjoyable.
“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.”
The new format stores will not replace the traditional Whole Foods Market store format. In fact, says the retailer, this ‘quick-shop’ format is one more way Whole Foods Market and Amazon are innovating every day to build a “best-in-class” grocery shopping experience that offers multiple ways for customers to conveniently shop for the products they know and love.
Whole Foods Market currently has more than 530 stores in the US, UK and Canada with more than 75 stores in the pipeline.
