Whole Foods Is Testing a Radical New Store Format and the Reactions Are “Wow”

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Whole Foods is testing the concept of smaller minimart Daily Shops in densely populated areas, for people who can’t or won’t visit the larger stores. The mini Whole Foods in Manhattan’s Upper East Side is a quarter of the size of a regular store at just 9,100 square feet, perfect for a neighborhood grocery store. “The idea of having a store down the block where you could go and get produce, I was thrilled that they opened,” local resident Arthur Glauberman told The Wall Street Journal .

A woman shopping inside a Whole Foods store - 3

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The small stores offer items at comparable prices to the regular stores, with a focus on core products which can be quickly stocked and re-stocked on demand. People are less likely to do big shopping trips when they can come in frequently for smaller items. “We’re serving a previously unmet need in the neighborhood,” Nicole Davia , a Whole Foods senior vice president, tells the WSJ .

The produce section inside a Whole Foods store - 4

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The Lenox Hill Daily Shop offers more than 400 local products over 100 Northeast-based suppliers, the company says. This includes brands such as Family Farmstead Dairy, The White Moustache, Annie’s Ginger Elixir, Dam Good English Muffins and Mill Hollow Maple Syrup. “As a lifelong New Yorker, I am thrilled to welcome customers into our first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop,” says Timeisha Brisco , Store Leader for Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. “Whether they are picking up coffee or lunch on-the-go, or grabbing final ingredients needed for dinner, we look forward to providing our customers with a quick, convenient shopping experience that meets all of our quality standards.”

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A man uses the self-checkout kiosks at Whole Foods - 5

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Self-checkout will be the primary checkout option, with Lenox Hill containing 10 self-checkout kiosks compared to just two manned kiosks. “@wholefoods will be opening Whole Foods Market Daily Shops in Hell’s Kitchen and the East Village in the upcoming months, with additional New York City locations and a national rollout on the way. In the meantime, come check out the new concept for yourself at 1175 Third Avenue!” says Instagram influencer Rachel Brotman .

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Whole Foods Is Testing a Radical New Store Format and the Reactions Are “Wow”#

Whole Foods Is Testing a Radical New Store Format and the Reactions Are “Wow”