Whole Foods To Open Smaller Footprint Stores

With the goal of enhancing its connections with shoppers in urban environments, Whole Foods Markets has unveiled its quick-shop store format designed to offer a quick, convenience shopping experience.

The new Whole Foods Market Daily Shop format will launch on Manhattan's Upper East Side with additional New York City stores to follow. The first store at 1175 Third Avenue, will open this year, but a specific date was not announced. The format will also expand to other cities across the U.S.

“At our new store formats, we’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles,” said Christina Minardi, executive vice president Growth & Development, Whole Foods Market & Amazon. “We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favorites, 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.”

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Ranging in size between 7,000 square feet to 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. 

The product selection at these smaller stores will include an assortment of products from Whole Foods’ proprietary 365 by Whole Foods Market brand, along with an ample selection of fresh, seasonal produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods such as sandwiches and pre-packed meals, breads, alcohol, and supplements, and handpicked range of local specialties

Additionally, 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.

Whole Foods officials said the new format stores will not replace the traditional Whole Foods Market store format. In 2023, Whole Foods Market added its 17th store in New York City at One Wall Street, underscoring the company’s dedication to enhancing the urban customer experience and expanding its urban real estate footprint. Whole Foods Market currently has more than 530 stores in the U.S., U.K. and Canada with more than 75 stores in the pipeline.