JERICHO, N.Y (October 6, 2005). Whole Foods Market® (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer, opened its second Long Island location today at 8 a.m. The new store is located in Jericho at 429 North Broadway at Birchwood Shopping Center. The first Whole Foods Market on Long Island is in Manhasset, which opened in 1996.
“We're excited to be opening an additional Whole Foods Market to serve the area because many Long Islanders have been driving a great distance to our Manhasset location to find the widest selection of natural and organic foods and to enjoy a greater level of customer appreciation. With the opening of our new Jericho store, we will continue to satisfy and delight the Long Island community, as well as reach new shoppers,” said Christina Minardi, president of Whole Foods Market's Northeast Region.
Like at all Whole Foods Market stores, guests can shop with confidence at the Jericho location knowing that Whole Foods Market takes pride in being highly selective about its product offering. Every product on the shelf meets the company's strict quality standards to ensure it is free of artificial additives, sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives and hydrogenated oils.
In Jericho, Whole Foods Market will continue its strong commitment by buying local — not just fruits and vegetables, but also Long Island's very best food producers as well. Set to be in the Jericho store on opening day include Aldo's Biscotti, Blue Point Beer, Hampton Honey, Jericho Cider Mill, Mary's Marvelous Granola, North Fork Potato Chips, and Paumonk Preserves.
Spanning more than 35,000 square feet, the new Whole Foods Market store was designed with a vibrant, airy feel. Shoppers enter under a glass-tower atrium that gives the open-air entrance a welcoming feel while naturally lighting the floral and produce departments flanking the entrance. Highlighting the new store will be Whole Foods Market's continued commitment to buying local produce. During harvest season, shoppers can expect to see the fruits of many New York farmers' labor with fresh red and green chard, late season lettuces, winter squash and many other Empire State favorites.
Knowledgeable fishmongers ready to recommend the fresh catches of the day greet shoppers in the large seafood department, where fresh fish packed on ice, a lobster tank, and cases for smoked seafood, Dungeness crabs and shellfish will display the freshest seafood available. Within the adjacent meat department, Whole Foods Market offers the freshest, highest-quality natural meats, free of antibiotics and growth hormones and presented by an experienced team ready to provide knowledge and expertise like neighborhood butchers used to do. A mouth-watering variety of all natural red meat, lamb and poultry will be available. One case is dedicated to organic meat and another for dry-aged beef, which is cured on-site.
In both the seafood and meat departments, “Ready to Cook” kits will be offered. “Ready to Cook” is a product line where the meat or seafood is packaged with marinades or other seasonings. Popular “Ready to Cook” selections include one with enough peeled and deveined shrimp and scallops to serve two, plus herb paste for cooking and remoulade for dipping.
Offering up an extensive selection of freshly prepared foods, Jericho's new Whole Foods Market will be a place where busy Long Islanders can come for a healthful prepared meal, as well as for their grocery needs. A large rotisserie oven will roast chicken, ribs, pork, lamb, kabobs in a basket and small turkeys. In-house corned beef and pastrami will be available, as well as two salad bars, an island serving six varieties soup including chili, and a hot bar specializing in Italian and Indian cuisine. Rounding out the prepared cuisine offered at Jericho's new Whole Foods Market are stations for sushi and comfort food for fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and roasts that can be carved and served.
Satisfying a sweet tooth can also be easily accomplished with a wide range of desserts including tiramisu, trifle, parfaits, rice and chocolate pudding. The bakery will also offer up European market style self-serve bread, four varieties of fudge sold by the pound at coffee island, and truffles from Christopher Norman. Shoppers with special dietary needs will also find the bakery department suited for them as vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free items will be available.
Upon checkout, nine registers will help shoppers get them on their way, but if they decide to enjoy their fresh prepared food purchases or just linger to people watch at Whole Foods Market, there is a bright and sunny 70-seat café.
“Not only are we here to serve shoppers with a tremendous selection of purely delicious, all natural foods, but with our commitment to customer service, ongoing cooking demos and free tastings, everyone will leave the new Whole Foods Market with a smile on their face and a bag of healthful food for themselves and their family,” said Jennifer Rudback, Whole Foods Market store team leader.
Whole Body™ at Whole Foods Market will offer a large selection of luxurious natural body care items and cosmetics, as well as a broad selection of high-quality nutritional supplements and vitamins. Customers will be able to enjoy a make-up station where they will be able to test selected products and take home samples. All products at Whole Body are made with the highest quality natural ingredients and are free of harsh chemicals and unnecessary fillers.
Whole Foods Market is a uniquely mission-driven company and one of the company's core values is to be an active community citizen. It donates five percent of profits annually to a variety of non-profit organizations in addition to hosting quarterly five-percent days, where the store donates five percent of a day's sales to a local non-profit organization.
