Whole Foods Market makes entry into Wyoming

Whole Foods Market this week entered Wyoming, its 43rd state, with the completion of its acquisition of independent supermarket Jackson Whole Grocer.

The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocery chain said the store, located at 1155 S. Highway 89 in Jackson, Wyo., will remain open during its conversion to the Whole Foods banner. The acquisition was announced last month.

A subsidiary of online retail giant Amazon, Whole Foods said Prime member benefits and curbside pickup won’t be available immediately at the Jackson store but that it’s working to make them available as soon as possible under the banner transition. Prime members who shop at Whole Foods have access to a range of benefits year-round, such as exclusive discounts on selected products and an extra 10% off hundreds of in-store sale items. 

“We are excited to expand our presence into Wyoming,” Bill Jordan, Rocky Mountain regional president at Whole Foods, said in a statement. “We look forward to getting to know the Jackson community — including residents and visitors — and providing them with products that all meet Whole Foods Market’s unparalleled quality standards, as well as a destination to discover new flavors and local items unique to this area.”

Whole Foods said it has offered jobs to as many qualified Jackson Whole Grocer employees as possible. To mark its entry into the Jackson community, Whole Foods will donate $25,000 to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and become a co-challenger for the 25th Annual Old Bill’s Fun Run in support of local nonprofits.

Related:Whole Foods Market launches free grocery pickup at all stores

On its Facebook page, Jackson Whole Grocer describes itself as a “one-stop shop offering organic, all-natural products and everyday essential and culinary delights.”

According to Jackson Whole Grocer owner Jeff Rice, Whole Foods is 'aligned with our mission of creating and sharing exceptional experiences in food and shopping.'

The store offers a wide assortment of natural and organic produce, an organic salad bar, sides and entrees, fresh baked goods, custom-made sandwiches, pizza, a taqueria, sushi and a specialty bakery. The meat and fish department specializes in regional meats and sustainable seafood, while an in-store beverage area offers beer, wine spirits with weekly tastings and “by the glass” service. Other features include a large bulk foods section; a “whole health” department with health care (including traditional and natural remedies) and beauty care products. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are available in all departments, according to the retailer.

“After much mindful consideration, we have decided to sell our business,” Jackson Whole Grocer owner Jeff Rice said in a statement on the retailer’s sale. “We are fortunate to have this opportunity with Whole Foods Market, an organization that is aligned with our mission of creating and sharing exceptional experiences in food and shopping.”

Related:Whole Foods sweetens urban appeal with new Manhattan, D.C. stores

Whole Foods now operates 503 U.S. stores overall. Currently, the only states where the chain doesn’t have stores are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North and South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. Later this year, Whole Foods reportedly plans to open its first store in Montana at the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman.

Most recently, Whole Foods opened stores in Boulder, Colo., on Feb. 24; Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 19; Asheville, N.C., on Dec. 8; and Westbury, N.Y., on Nov. 5.