CHICAGO (February 13, 2013) – Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) today announced plans to open a new store in St. Louis, Mo. The company expects the store to open in mid- 2015. The new store will be located in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood near the intersection of North Euclid and West Pine, currently being developed by Mills Properties. The new Central West End location will bring the number of Whole Food Market St. Louis area locations to three.
The store will be approximately 38,000 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 in the St. Louis market. 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 further serve the St. Louis market,” comments Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest Regional President. “We’re incredibly excited to be expanding our brand and offering our wide selection of high quality natural and organic products to the Central West End 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 deepen our connections within the St. Louis community,” Bashaw comments. “We look forward to building strong relationships with our neighborhood partners in the Central West End.”
