Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel, joined by 70 team members, rang the Nasdaq opening bell today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its flagship store in New York City’s Columbus Circle. The 2004 launch of this store was a landmark event for the company, marking its significant entry into the New York market and introducing the city to its high-quality natural and organic offerings. Since then, Whole Foods Market has expanded to 17 locations across New York City, employing over 5,000 local team members.
Christina Minardi, Executive Vice President of Growth & Development at Whole Foods Market & Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, reflected on the store’s significance: “The Columbus Circle store’s opening was a pivotal moment in our history. It set the stage for our future growth, and I’m still filled with the same excitement today as I was then.”
CEO Jason Buechel echoed this sentiment, stating, “As we celebrate our impact over the past two decades in New York City, we’re also looking ahead to an exciting future. The launch of the Whole Foods Market Daily Shop format here is a perfect example of our commitment to meet the needs of our customers with high-quality natural and organic foods in a convenient format.”
The first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop will open this fall on the Upper East Side at 1175 Third Avenue. Additionally, a second location is planned for 301 West 50th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. These new stores will feature fresh produce, prepared foods, and essential grocery items, along with Juice & Java, offering coffee, tea, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.
Designed to cater to urban lifestyles, the Daily Shop format will be between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet, roughly a quarter to half the size of a typical 40,000 square foot Whole Foods Market. This innovative format aims to deliver high-quality ingredients with added convenience for city dwellers.
Whole Foods Market operates over 530 stores across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, with more than 75 additional stores in development.
About Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1980 and based in Austin, Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic foods retailer and the first certified organic national grocer in the U.S. As part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, Whole Foods Market serves customers in over 530 locations across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. For more information, visit Whole Foods Market.
