FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Nov. 4, 2015) — Whole Foods Market, the leading natural and organic food retailer, has announced plans to open a new 45,000-square-foot location in Fort Myers. Slated to open late 2017, the store will be located at the intersection of Daniels Parkway and Ben C. Pratt/6 Mile Cypress Highway.

“We’ve received such a positive response from the west coast of Florida since the opening of the Whole Foods Market in Naples in 2008, so we are very excited to bring a new location to Fort Myers,” said Juan Nuñez, president of Whole Foods Market's Florida Region. “The Fort Myers store will be more than 20 miles from Naples, making it more convenient for our loyal shoppers, and to cultivate new relationships in the Fort Myers community.”

Announced during the company’s earnings call on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Fort Myers is the latest Whole Foods Market location planned for Florida. Other stores in development include Destin, Altamonte Springs, Winter Park North and North Sarasota.

There are currently 24 stores located throughout Florida in Aventura, Boca Raton, Carrollwood, Clearwater, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Davie, Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Naples, North Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Pembroke Pines, Pinecrest, Pompano Beach, Sarasota, South Beach, Tallahassee, Tampa, Wellington, West Palm Beach, and Winter Park.

Specific information on this store will not be available until closer to opening, as each of the company’s stores are built specifically to serve the needs of their unique neighborhoods.