CHEF’STORE opens 2nd store in Utah

CHEF’STORE, the warehouse retail concept from US Foods that is open to restaurant professionals as well as the general public, opened its second store in Utah this past weekend, bringing the retailer's store count to 88 nationwide across 13 states as the wholesale segment continues to grow.

The 20,000-square-foot-store located at 2986 E. Panther Way St. in George, offers more than 7,000 items including fresh, deli, frozen, dairy and produce, with products available in bulk and individual quantities.

“We are excited to expand our CHEF’STORE footprint in the great state of Utah,” said Irfan Badibanga, president of CHEF’STORE, in a statement. “St. George is a blossoming city with a vibrant restaurant and culinary scene and we look forward to supporting the community’s culinary needs with restaurant-quality products at competitive prices.”

With no membership required, CHEF’STORE also offers shoppers its Cool and Carry program, which enables customers to purchase frozen gel packs to transport perishables safely.

Looking to expand its footprint and accelerate growth in the cash & carry market, CHEF’STORE last month  opened its third location in Montana. The 20,000-square-foot Helena store is located at 2885 North Sanders Street. Joining the existing Montana locations in Kalispell and Missoula, the new location is part of CHEF’STORE’s commitment to being a one-stop wholesale shop for all shoppers with no membership fee required.

CHEF’STORE isn’t the only wholesaler eyeing growth and expansion across the U.S.

BJ’s Wholesale Club is capitalizing on its value-is-king model as the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based wholesale club announced last week expansion into Tennessee—its 19th state. The new club will open in La Vergne, 20 miles southeast of downtown Nashville in Rutherford County, and is expected to open the first half of the year.

And just last month, Walmart-owned house club Sam’s Club unveiled its plans to open 30 new locations across the U.S. over the next several years. The new stores, which will be about 20,000-square-feet-larger than current Sam’s Clubs, will debut in Florida next year.