EMERYVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 12, 2013) – Whole Foods Market will open its new Fremont store at 3111 Mowry St. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Store leadership and Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison will be on hand for a bread-breaking ceremony at 9:45 a.m. and doors will open at 10 a.m. The first 250 shoppers will receive a free gift bag filled with Whole Foods Market signature items.
The Fremont location is the first Whole Foods Market store to serve customers between Palo Alto, San Ramon, Oakland and San Jose.
Area residents can also celebrate the opening at the store’s Whole Planet Foundation Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 12 – 4 p.m. The free event will feature more than 50 vendors and community organizations, live music, multi-cultural dance performances and kids’ activities.
“Whole Foods Market looks forward to being part of Fremont’s diverse community, as well as building lasting relationships with local vendors, the business community and residents alike,” said Pedro Fonseca, store team leader, Whole Foods Market Fremont. “And with our cool Tap Room, we also hope to become a community gathering spot – a place where folks can grab a drink, enjoy some great food and kick up their heels after a busy day.”
The 39,000-square-foot store, located at the corner of Mowry Avenue and Paseo Padre Parkway, features worldly décor with locally-sourced tile from Fire Clay Tile in San Jose. Green design elements include reclaimed Douglas fir wood used for various fixtures; LED lights on exterior lighted signs, track lighting, hood lighting and all refrigerated food cases and electric car charging stations. All new wood fixtures and wood cladding throughout the store are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.
Additionally, as the California School for the Deaf is a neighbor, all Whole Foods Market Team Members will receive basic training in American Sign Language.
Other highlights include:
Local Vendors – a wide range of local products from within 100 miles of Fremont:
- CCOF organic produce: cauliflower, tomatoes, lettuces, and broccoli from Perry Organic Farms in Fremont.
- Hillcrest Olive Oil – olive oil from Hillcrest Ranch in Sunol, a six-and-a-half acre island of 137-century-old olive trees in the middle of 2000 trees in Pleasanton Ridge East Bay Regional Park.
- Southeast Asian style curry pastes from Asian Seasons in Santa Clara.
- Sosu Srirachup™ – sriracha flavored ketchup from San Francisco made with local organic tomatoes from Frog Hollow Farms in Brentwood
- Sweet and savory pies from local favorite Niles Pies in Union City (available a short time after opening).
- Cut flowers from Foolish Hens located at Sunol Ag Park nearby Pleasanton
- Organic Lamb Haas avocados from Ramavtar Singh Farms in Fremont Hills
- Organic tomatoes, peppers, squash from Terra Bella Farms at Sunol Ag Park
- Organic strawberries from Chan Saelee of Iu-Mien Village Farms at Sunol Ag Park
- Local honey from Mike Stephano’s Home Town Honey (hives located in Livermore Valley/Sunol area)
- East West Gourmet Afghan food in hot bar including bolanis and sauces
- Roti-Paratha wraps from Indian Bento in San Francisco
Mission Peak Tap Alley – seven beers on tap in a charming tap room housed within the store. Local beers on tap are from breweries including Bison Organic Beer, Ale Industries, Drake's Brewing, Cali Craft and Red Branch Ciders. Additionally, customers can enjoy wines by the glass, hand-crafted Italian sodas and a selection of delicious menu items. Tap Alley seats 40 and customers will need to be at least 21 years of age to enter the room and will be required to show proof of age upon entrance.
Meat – large meat counter with special offerings including local Panorama organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef as well as Country Natural grain-finished beef from cattle that have never been in a feedlot. Also available will be grab-and-go seasoned and marinated meats; stew and pot roast kits; house-made sausages; Non-GMO-fed and organic chickens from Mary’s (Fresno); local Pozzi grass-fed lamb; Halal lamb from New Zealand; local goat from Bar Lew Ranch (Petaluma); and Diestel Ranch turkeys. There will also be a smokehouse for smoking brisket, wings and pulled pork.
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 – featuring hearth breads mixed, hand rolled and baked from scratch daily. Small and large cakes are available with customized decorating for any occasion. Seasonally, customers can find baked-from-scratch pies with all-butter crusts and locally-sourced fruit. Plus, fresh-baked brownies, cookies, cupcakes and gluten-free, raw and vegan treats.
Seafood – large seafood counter featuring a vast array of fresh and frozen selections, as well as all the marinades, sauces, seasonings and herbs to complete a meal with seafood as the centerpiece. Whole Foods Market also offers a large selection of sustainable seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and rated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program.
Prepared Foods – made by a team of in-house chefs. Specialties include a daily selection of seasonal soups; Indian Dosa and Chaat; full-service wok/stir-fry, burrito, sandwich and pizza stations; and an extensive salad bar featuring organic offerings. Healthful and tasty lunch selections will also be available daily, including a variety of nutrient-rich items like quinoa, brown rice and kale.
Produce – the highest quality produce with over half of all available products sourced annually from local growers like Perry Farms and Pinnacle Farms. 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 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.
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, a new line of natural “Whole Paws” pet food products, and home and cleaning products bearing the Eco-Scale label indicating environmental impact.
Beer and Wine – a large selection of more than 500 wines and 300 beers.
Specialty – hundreds of cheeses from around the world as well local favorites, more than 40 olive and antipasti mixes and a savory station serving waffles and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Bulk Section – more than 200 bulk products including grains, flours, nuts, spices, oils and vinegar.
Drink Bar – features freshly-brewed espresso and coffee daily from Allegro, ® fresh juice drinks and smoothie bar.
Nut Butters – grind-your-own organic peanut and almond butters.
Whole Body – mineral make-up and premium quality facial care, organic apparel & sustainable accessories, best-selling books on nutrition and healthy eating, plus supplements including natural immune support for the upcoming cold and flu season.
Health, Wellness and Food – Healthy Eating Specialist Joy Chen will be available to help customers with special diets and making healthy choices. She also will provide cooking tips and demonstrations in the store.
Store Tours – shopping tours tailored to special diets such as gluten-free living and store tours for parents, as well tours themed for 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 five percent of the day's net sales is contributed to a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Fremont store will kick off a “Week of Giving” on September 30 and have five one-percent days that will benefit the following organizations:
- Sept. 30: Fremont Leaf (environmental sustainability)
- Oct. 1: Abode
- Oct. 2: Fremont Education Foundation
- Oct. 3: TriCity Volunteers
- Oct. 4: East Bay Regional Parks Foundation
Nickels for Nonprofits – when customers bring in their own bags for groceries they have the option of receiving a five-cent refund (per bag) or donating the money to a selected charity. The first non-profit beneficiaries are Furry Friends Rescue and Kidango.
Store Dining and WiFi – Free Wi-Fi and café space behind the registers.
Kid’s Club – children ages 2 through 8 are eligible to receive a free treat.
Electric Car Chargers – There will be one level three fast charger and one level two charger. These will be managed by eVgo and customers will pay for use.
Catering – available for local businesses and events.
Whole Foods Market Fremont
3111 Mowry Ave.
Fremont, CA 94538
Tel. 510-401-5880
Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Store Team Leader: Pedro Fonseca
Website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/fremont-ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WFMFremont
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wholefoodsnorca
*Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.
