EMERYVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2014) – Whole Foods Market opens its new Berkeley store, at 1025 Gilman Street, on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Store and regional leaders will host a bread-breaking ceremony and will present a check to Berkeley USD Gardening & Cooking program. The bread breaking takes place at 9:45 a.m. The doors will open at 10 a.m.
The Gilman location is the second for Whole Foods Market in Berkeley, the 40th in the Northern California Region, and the 401st companywide.
Prior to opening, Whole Foods Market Gilman hosted a “likes for donations” campaign on Facebook to raise money for the Berkeley USD Gardening & Cooking Program. The original Berkeley store, located at 3000 Telegraph Avenue, also hosted a “5% Day” and donated five percent of one day’s sales to the program. The check presentation follows these two fundraising efforts.
“Berkeley is a national hub for the natural, organic and local food movements, and we’re so honored to be able to expand our presence here,” said Jen Monaco, the store’s team leader. “Through partnerships with Berkeley Kitchens, BUSD’s Gardening & Cooking Program, Urban Adamah, Berkeley Humane and so many others, we’ll be able to both offer great food and give back to this amazing community.”
In design, the 47,800-square-foot store offers an updated craftsman feel and reflects the community. Modern lines, decorative accents and neon colors combine with reclaimed and salvaged materials to evoke industrial, artistic West Berkeley. The exterior façade is made of reclaimed redwood from a demolished sawmill in Mendocino County, and the glazed brick exterior sections are made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled content by Fireclay Tile in San Jose. Additionally, a portion of the wood used in indoor store fixtures comes from the Port of Oakland.
Inside the store, a trans-critical CO2 refrigeration system allows less refrigerant to be circulated for the store’s capacity, which, in turn, reduces the store’s dependence on the public grid by up to 90 percent. This system is HFC (hyrdoflurocarbon)-free with an ozone depletion potential of zero. Furthermore, energy expended by the system in the form of heat is captured by hot water reclaim tanks that reduce the energy required to push drinkable hot water to the store.
Local Sourcing
Local sourcing is a priority for Whole Foods Market, and the company works to grow local food entrepreneurs. At the Gilman store, Local Forager Harv Singh has helped at least five East Bay food makers make their national retail debut: Living Apothecary beverages, Muffin Revolution frozen Paleo muffins, Nuthouse Granola, Sosu Sauces and Morell’s Bread. The store also features companies that customers can support via Credibles, a program that was founded in Berkeley by Slow Money, and allows customers to “pay in advance” for their favorite local products to help entrepreneurs grow. Berkeley favorites like Local Greens, Belfiore Cheese and Ancient Organics ghee are on the shelves. Finally, the store is home to Whole Foods Market’s first dedicated “Forager Finds” set, a dedicated space for shoppers to discover new non-perishable local products. Some of the names on the “Forager Finds” shelf include Berkeley Olive Grove 1913 olive oil, Community Grains pasta (Oakland), Omnivore Salt, Soda Rock Farms San Marzano sauce and Baia Pasta.
Other highlights of the Gilman store include:
Allegro Coffee Roasters – Located inside Whole Foods Market’s new store at 10th and Gilman, ACR connects guests with small lots of specialty coffee and a highly skilled team of passionate coffee experts with whom they can share the experience. The house blend, Espresso 924, is named after Gilman Street’s own famous punk rock music venue, 924 Gilman. For more information, visit media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/ACR-Gilman.
Produce – The new “Responsibly Grown” produce rating system assesses growing practices that impact human health and the environment. The system labels fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers as “good,” “better,” or “best” to help shoppers make more informed choices; it also prohibits some of the most hazardous pesticides/neurotoxins still allowed in agriculture.
On the shelf, shoppers find the highest quality produce with over half of all available products sourced annually from local growers like Local Greens. A wide selection of organic items, with pre-cut fruit and vegetables “made right here” in store as well as a variety of fresh squeezed juices. Customers can also choose bananas, mangoes, peppers, melons and pineapples with the Whole Trade seal, which indicates Whole Foods Market’s commitment to offering the highest quality fairly traded goods that ensure farm workers are treated ethically and fairly, and are produced using environmentally friendly growing practices.
Meat – Full-service butcher counter offering local meats and meat products including Pozzi Ranch grass-fed lamb, Panorama organic 100 percent grass-fed beef; Country Natural pasture-raised, grain finished beef from cattle that have never been in a feedlot; Diestel Ranch turkeys (Non-GMO Project Verified); Non-GMO-fed, organic chickens from Mary’s (Fresno); and whole-meat frozen chicken nuggets and wings from Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan recipient Hip Chick Farms (Sebastopol). Also available will be grab-and-go seasoned and marinated meats, house-made sausages, and halal certified lamb from New Zealand. During opening week, packets of Paleo bacon from Wellshire Farms (exclusive to Whole Foods Market) are buy-one-get-one-free.
The store offers the best-tasting, freshest and highest-quality meat available that meets the company’s strict quality standards, which include that animals are raised on a vegetarian diet without being administered antibiotics or added growth hormones.* All beef, pork, chicken and turkey carried in the fresh and pre-packaged cases at all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. comes from farms that are rated according to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating program.
Artisan Bakery – In addition to the standard lineup of cakes, tarts and breakfast pastries, the Gilman store’s bakery offers hearth breads, including classic sourdough, three cheese and cranberry walnut, baked from scratch daily. Paletas (ice pops made from fresh fruit) are also available in seasonal flavors. The Gilman bakery will also connect shoppers with Berkeley’s finest local bakers: Barron’s Bagels, Morell’s Bread, The Acme Bread Company and Firebrand Artisan Breads. Customers can also find a wide selection of gluten free and vegan treats.
“Mocktails” and Fresh Juices – Through a partnership with Shrub & Co (Berkeley), customers can order “mocktails” (a combination of fresh juices and shrubs) or shrub sodas in seasonal flavors. An all-new juice menu offers juices designed to support health and wellness.
Seafood – The Gilman store offers an array of fresh and frozen selections and all the marinades, sauces, seasonings and herbs to complete a meal with seafood as the centerpiece. During opening week, ethically sourced lobster tails will be two for $10, and farm-raised salmon is a great value at $8.99 a pound. All of Whole Foods Market’s wild-caught seafood comes from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or is rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program. Farm-raised seafood is sold under the “Responsibly Farmed” logo, which ensures farm operations have minimal impact on the ecosystem and do not use additives or antibiotics in feed.
Prepared Foods and Charcuterie – Expanded charcuterie program and house-made smoked pastrami, corned beef, duck confit, smoked turkey and smoked BBQ pulled pork. Hot bar featuring dishes made by a team of in-house chefs. An “Adventure Taco” bar may include specialties like Korean beef with kimchi, chicken tikka masala, Chinese five spice chicken, duck confit tacos or balsamic portabella mushrooms. Customers will also find an expanded pizza venue with empanadas, gourmet “pizzettes” and strombolis.
The store will also offer Whole Foods Market’s regular sandwich station, and an extensive salad bar featuring organic ingredients. Healthful and tasty lunch selections, including a variety of nutrient-rich items like quinoa, brown rice and kale, will also be available daily.
Whole Body – New with the Gilman store is a “Try It” bar that offers large samples of various skin, hair and beauty products. Customers can choose multiple samples, and Whole Body team members send them home with personally labeled, item-specific information. Whole Body will also offer Whole Foods Market’s standard lineup of natural and organic premium face, body and skin care products plus supplements, including immune support for the upcoming cold and flu season. In the lifestyle section, customers can find organic apparel and accessories from businesses committed to sustainability.
Grocery – Featuring Whole Foods Market’s signature mix of value and special occasion items. Customers can choose from hundreds of 365 Everyday Value™ products, locally made packaged goods, frozen meals, “Whole Paws” pet food products, and home and cleaning products bearing the Eco-Scale™ label indicating environmental impact. Plus more than 240 bulk products including grains, flours, nuts, spices and nut butters.
Specialty – Beer and Wine – More than 550 wines (local: Donkey & Goat, Urban Legend) and 300 beers (local: Bison Organic Beer, Calicraft Brewing Company, Almanac Beer Co.). In the full-service, cut-to-order cheese department, customers can order as much or as little as they want from full wheels of a wide variety of cheeses. Cheeses come from local (Belfiore, Cowgirl Creamery) and global sources, and two on-staff Certified Cheese Professionals guide customers through flavor profiles, building cheese plates and wine pairings. The olive bar includes a dozen olive choices plus a handful of antipasti. Specialty chocolates, nuts, jams and other novelties round out the department.
Store Tours – Shopping tours tailored to special diets, such as gluten-free living, and store tours for parents, as well as tours focused on how to shop on a budget, are available. Private tours can be arranged by request.
Whole Foods Market Community Giving Days – Four times a year, Whole Foods Market sets aside a day on which 5 percent of the day's net sales is contributed to a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Gilman store will kick off a “Week of Giving” on Nov. 10, and will have five 1 percent days that will benefit:
Nov. 10: BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency)
Nov. 11: Albany Community Foundation
Nov. 12: University Village
Nov. 13: Berkeley City Parks
Nov. 14: YMCA of the Central Bay Area
Nickels for Nonprofits – When customers bring in their own bags for groceries they have the option of receiving a 5-cent refund (per bag) or donating the money to a selected charity. The first nonprofit beneficiary is the urban farm Urban Adamah.
Store Dining and Wi-Fi – Free Wi-Fi throughout the store; community gathering and dining space at Allegro Coffee Roasters.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – two high-efficiency NRG eVgo fast charging stations and one standard charging station.
Holiday orders – Order holiday meals, including main courses (turkeys, field roast, brisket and more), prepared sides, appetizers and desserts, at wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays.
Store Information
Whole Foods Market Gilman
1025 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Tel. 510-809-8293
Hours: Allegro Coffee Roasters 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Store 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Store Team Leader: Jen Monaco
Marketing & Community Relations Liaison: Kristen Tantarelli
Website: ww.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/gilman
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wfmgilman
Instagram: @wholefoodsmarketberkeley
Twitter: @wholefoodsnorca
*Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.
