Whole Foods Market intends to open two new stores in the UK, one in Richmond upon Thames in London and one in Giffnock in Glasgow. The company will open a 22,000 square-foot location in Glasgow, the grocer’s first store north of the Watford Gap, in late 2011, and a 20,000 square-foot store on the Richmond site early in 2013.
The retailer currently has five stores in the Greater London area. With the new sites confirmed, this announcement signals the first expansion of Whole Foods Market’s UK business since it opened its Kensington store in 2007. The stores will total more than 40,000 square feet of floor space and provide jobs for 300 local people, including skilled chefs, butchers and bakers.
Jeff Turnas, Whole Foods Market UK regional president, said: “We are delighted to underscore our commitment to the UK and make this further investment in our business here. It’s always been our ambition to open stores the length and breadth of the UK to offer our fresh and vibrant shopping experience.”
“Our goal is to be the finest food shop in every community we serve. We will be baking and cooking in the stores each day and we will be offering an amazing array of fresh, healthy and organic food. We are also committed to supporting regional producers and will be offering a host of products sourced locally,” Turnas added.
“We want our customers to celebrate the joys of eating and living well. We hope Whole Foods Market will continue to prompt change in the way people think about and shop for food and these new stores help us reach a whole new audience.”
– IndiaRetailing Bureau
