WholeFoods Market said it will triple its store count to 1,000, adding locations insmaller markets and underserved communities. The chain, which will open itsfirst Detroit store in 2013, is in talks to bring stores to parts of Chicagoand Newark, NJ which have little access to fresh food. Some of these areas havefew or no grocery stores.
Thestrategy is a different one for the natural and organic retailing giant, whichoperates in over 80% of the states across the country. The company hopes that focusing onsmaller, underserved communities will help to accelerate its high growth plans.Co-CEO Walter Robb confirmed: “We’re accelerating growth,” Robb said inan interview at the company’s Austin, Texas headquarters. “That’s going to takeus places we have not been to before.” Recent new store openings in ‘smaller’markets – those with populations of about 75,000 are up for consideration – includeGlen Mills, Pennsylvania and West Des Moines, Iowa. It’s targeting Wichita, Kansas for another. Store sizes range from 15,000square ft. to 75,000 sq. ft. and it is possible Whole Foods will have to shrinkits average store size further in order to compete in smaller markets.
In lateAugust, rumors were swirling that it WholeFood Market could possibly be in talks to acquire six supermarkets in theBoston area from Johnny’s Foodmaster, based in Chelsea, MA. Whole Foods had previously expanded in the area through theacquisition of the Bread & Circus chain. The company famously increased its store size when itpurchased the Wild Oats chain in 2007– a merger that generated controversy andscrutiny from the FTC. Smaller acquisitions like the aforementioned Foodmastercould also be in the company’s plans to help facilitate growth in smallermarkets.
Inthe month of August, Chain Store Guide received 83 responses from supermarketchains with at least five locations. 7% of the companies surveyed said its locationsare currently using an Android or Apple mobile product inside its stores, while93% stated they currently are not using any mobile device.
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