Whole Foods eyes two more small-format stores in NYC

Whole Foods said it plans to open a second small-format store in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, to be followed by a third New York City location and a national rollout.

The retailer, owned by ecommerce giant Amazon, said earlier this year that it would open the first Whole Foods Market Daily shop this fall on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

“There are currently five leases for New York City, including the Hell’s Kitchen and Upper East Side locations, and we plan to announce another soon,” a spokesperson for Whole Foods told Supermarket News.

Amazon also operates five locations of its Amazon Go convenience retail format in New York City.

Whole Foods has not disclosed the timing for the opening of the new stores or the national rollout.

Speaking at an investor conference earlier this year, Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel said the company was planning to open 30 stores per year, some of which would be in the Daily Shop format.

The Daily Shop stores, designed specifically for urban shoppers, will range from 7,000-14,000 square feet and focus on produce, prepared foods, and everyday essential grocery items, the company said. All three New York City locations will include the Juice & Java foodservice concept, offering coffee, tea, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.

Related:Whole Foods opening in Huntington Station, New York

This week, Buechel announced plans for the second and third New York City openings in conjunction with the 20^th anniversary of the retailer’s flagship New York City supermarket in Columbus Circle, about 10 blocks north of the planned Hell’s Kitchen location.

“Today, we’re not just reflecting on our impact in New York City over the past two decades. We’re also looking forward to an exciting future of continuing growth in a city that has embraced Whole Foods Market with such enthusiasm,” Buechel said.

Since opening its first Whole Foods in New York City in 2004, the retailer has grown to include 17 stores in the area.

The first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop will replace a former Food Emporium supermarket in a neighborhood known for mostly upscale residential buildings and retail stores. In Hell’s Kitchen, the Daily Shop will replace a closed Rite Aid drugstore in a more downscale area that has seen some gentrification over the past several years.

Whole Foods Market currently has more than 530 stores in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, with more than 75 stores in development.