CHICAGO (July 31, 2013)- Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) today announced plans to open a new store in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company expects the store to open in 2015. The new store will be located near the intersection of Saunders and Townline Roads and bring the number of Whole Foods Market locations in Chicago’s northern suburbs to five.
The store will be approximately 45,000 square feet and will reflect the company’s mission of supporting sustainable agriculture and the environment. With a focus on fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, specialty items, high-quality meats and poultry, everyday pantry staples and sustainable seafood, the store will appeal to a variety of customers ranging from the health conscious to serious food enthusiasts.
Whole Foods Market estimates that the new store will add approximately 150 additional jobs to the area. The company has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the U.S. for 16 consecutive years.
“We’re overjoyed about the opportunity to serve the City of Lake Forest and the rest of the North Shore community,” comments Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest Regional President. “We’re incredibly excited to be expanding access to our stores in Illinois and offering our wide selection of high quality natural and organic products to the Lake Forest community.”
Community support is one of the company’s core values and Whole Foods Market has a history of establishing a commitment to each of the communities it serves. Quarterly Community Support Days, where 5 percent of one-day’s sales are donated to a local nonprofit organization, are one of the most successful company programs. Other community support programs include One Dime at a Time, where customers can opt to have their 10¢ bag refund donated to a nonprofit organization, as well as daily donations to local food banks.
“This new location will allow us to create lasting connections within the Lake Forest community and provide greater convenience to our customers who might otherwise had to travel to one of our other locations,” Bashaw comments. “We look forward to building strong relationships with community groups within the City of Lake Forest and the opportunity to serve our neighbors in meaningful ways.”
