(Lake Grove, Long Island, NY– March, 2010) – Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America’s first national certified organic grocer, will open its doors in Lake Grove, Long Island, New York on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 8 a.m.  To celebrate the opening, Whole Foods Market will hold a special sneak preview event complete with tastings and giveaways for the public on Monday, March 15, 2010, from 5–8 p.m. Entry to the event is $10 with all proceeds benefiting Long Island Cares, the area’s first food bank and one of Long Island’s most comprehensive hunger action organizations.

The new, 48,000-square-foot-store, located at 120 New Moriches Road in Lake Grove, is the company’s 292nd store, and will open just in time to serve area shoppers during the Easter and Passover season. 

“We’ve been looking forward to the Lake Grove store opening and are thrilled to bring Whole Foods Market to the residents of central and eastern Long Island,” said Rob Twyman, regional vice president of Whole Foods Market’s Northeast region.  “Just in time for spring, we’ll be opening our doors to surprise and delight a new group of customers with our wide selection of eateries and offerings that people have come to love and expect from Whole Foods Market, with a few unique twists special for the Lake Grove community.”

The new store will offer a host of signature Whole Foods Market features including a second-to-none produce section with both seasonal and local offerings, as well as fresh-from-the-tap kombucha and fresh-squeezed juices in the department’s juice bar. The extensive bakery department will offer fresh breads, muffins, scones, pies, tortes and other assorted baked goods including gluten-free options. The meat department will offer the highest quality meat and poultry without added growth hormones or antibiotics, featuring responsibly raised products from free range farms in the Northeast, and the seafood department will offer the freshest catches sourced locally in Long Island as well as from around the world.

From ready-made meals to everyday value items such as Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value™ and 365 Organic Everyday Value™ in the grocery department, the new Lake Grove location will provide shoppers with high quality products at everyday value prices. The store’s grocery aisles will provide all the highest quality pantry items, all without artificial colorings, flavorings, preservatives or hydrogenated fats. The store will also feature Whole Body, offering shoppers an array of all-natural health and beauty products.

The prepared foods section will provide plenty of everyday favorites for meals on the go, including hot soups, rotisserie chickens, fresh-made panini grilled to order, and sushi, as well as a full healthy eating bar with a variety of raw, vegan, and oil-free salad items.  Special to the Lake Grove location will be a Vietnamese Ph? bar, serving up a variety of traditional Vietnamese noodle and miso options chock full of fresh cut herbs and spices. The specialty department will feature a wide selection of cheeses from around the world as well as a variety of artisan fresh pastas and sauces and a unique antipasti and olive bar featuring varieties of olives, peppers, pickles and more.

In line with the company’s increased focus on healthy eating, the new store will have a Healthy Eating Center staffed by a healthy eating specialist who will host a variety of classes, demos and educational programs to assist interested shoppers in leading a healthier lifestyle.  

All departments will be ready for both Easter and Passover with a wide offering of holiday menu items for both small and large gatherings.

Those interested in attending the sneak preview event on Monday, March 15, 2010, 5 – 8 p.m., please visit lakegrove.wholefoodsmarketevents.com to RSVP. Or, contact Ivy Goldberg, 646-300-6686 or events@organicworkspr.com.

Whole Foods Market – Lake Grove Lake Grove Commons 120 New Moriches Road, Lake Grove, L.I., NY, 11755 Telephone number: 631-588-1466 Hours of operation: 8 a.m. –10 p.m., seven days a week.