Whole Foods Market : Opening Four Chicago Stores by May

Streeterville, DePaul, West Loop and Edgewater locations the first of seven by year-end

Whole Foods Market® (Nasdaq: WFM) plans to open four stores in the city of Chicago, bringing great-tasting food in its purest state to Streeterville on January 28, followed closely by stores in Lincoln Park near DePaul University (February 25), the West Loop (March 25) and Edgewater (April 29).

"Whole Foods Market loves Chicago and we know that the community has been hungry for these stores to reopen for some time," said Michael Bashaw, Midwest Regional President, Whole Foods Market. "We took the time to design and build a brand new store for each community that would offer not just a full-service grocery, but a place to meet friends and share each others company.  After the communities come to know these stores, I believe they'll feel the wait was worth it!"

Whole Foods Market Streeterville is the first store to reopen and it will feature a variety of new prepared foods and beverage venues as well as classic Whole Foods Market options for shoppers to choose from. These venues include:

• RAW: Special venue filled with products from Chicago's own local raw and vegan foods restaurant RAW.  This new venue will offer a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options for our shoppers who follow raw and vegan diets.
• Red Star Bar: Rotating tap of 12 draft beers including an exclusive Streeterville Pale Ale brewed by Begyle Brewing just for this store.
• Coffee bar by day, wine bar by night: Customers can stop in for a cup of espresso from the La Marzocco espresso machine to get their day going in the morning and return after work for a nice glass of wine to wind down the day. 
• Focaccia: The bakery will have a rotating menu of classic and seasonal varieties of breakfast, lunch and dinner options for shoppers. 
• New Whole Body Department: Apothecary setting that includes a self-sufficient vertical garden. A first for Chicago Whole Foods Market locations, this new concept includes cosmetics, DIY ideas, face care, and active living support.
• Traditional favorites include the fresh made sushi, oven-fired pizza, gelato station, juice bar, sandwich bar, hot bar, salad bar and ramen station.

On opening day, Whole Foods Market will host its version of a ribbon cutting, called a "bread-breaking ceremony" with Whole Foods Market Team Members and Streeterville neighbors at 8:45 AM, followed by food samples, entertainment, and gift cards for the first 500 customers.  Doors will open at 9:00 AM.

Whole Foods Market's strict Quality Standards for food prohibits artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. Products on the shelves are evaluated on ingredients, but also ideology, philosophy, proper labeling, and careful evaluation as part of a commitment made to customers to build a business with high standards that flow through all aspects of the company.

Shoppers will delight in the bright, colorful and delicious responsibly grown produce. Whole Foods Market's recently launched Responsibly Grown produce rating system uses well-regarded scientific input to rate produce and flowers as "good," "better" or "best" by assessing growing practices that impact human health and the environment. This new system continues Whole Foods Market commitment to providing healthy, fresh food without the expense to nature.

This level of commitment and transparency extends into other departments.
• Meat: All beef, pork, chicken and turkey in the meat department comes from farms that have achieved certification in the Global Animal Partnership's 5-StepTM Animal Welfare Rating program.
• Seafood: Our seafood counter has the highest quality standards for seafood in the business by working with scientists, fishermen, government agencies and environmental organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council to gather information about aquaculture and wild-capture fisheries, ensuring customers can make the best environmental choices when purchasing seafood.
• Prepared Foods: With grab-and-go meals made with natural and organic ingredients, these high standards continue in the Prepared Foods department including each of the ready to eat food venues.

Whole Foods Market's dedication to quality and service extends beyond the brick and mortar of the store. "Whole Foods Market is committed to the local communities in which we serve. We've worked with local organizations long before we open our doors and look forward to continuing supporting the community through the coming years," adds Bashaw.  

Whole Foods Market's Streeterville store will also empower Team Members and customers to support local causes. In celebration of opening week, the store will hold five "Days of Community Giving," where one percent of each day's net sales will go toward a Chicago-based organization including Lookingglass Theater, Greater Chicago Foods Bank Depository, Chicago Parks Foundation, Active Transportation Alliance, and Best Buddies. 

Whole Foods Market's One Dime at a Time program provides an incentive to customers who bring their own bags for shopping and helps develop stronger communities.  At the register, customers will have the option to receive a 10-cent per bag refund as cash back off their receipt or they can choose to donate it to that month's selected charity organization. Whole Foods Market Streeterville's first One Dime at a Time recipient will be Lurie's Children's Hospital.  

Whole Foods will open additional locations in the Chicago suburbs of Evanston, Willowbrook and Elmhurst later this year. Additionally, Whole Foods Market expects to open two more Illinois locations by the end of 2016 including stores in the Englewood and Hyde Park neighborhoods of Chicago.

STORES AT A GLANCE
STREETERVILLE
Square feet: Over 50,600
Open: January 28, 2015
Address: 255 East Grand Ave
Highlights:
• Red Star Bar
• Coffee bar by day, wine bar at night
• Ramen Station
• Sandwich Bar
• Salad and Hot Bar
• Oven Fired Pizza
• Juice and Smoothie Bar
• Focaccia Station
• Frozen Greek Yogurt
• RAW venue

DEPAUL
Square feet: Over 29,000
Open: February 25, 2015
Address: 959 West Fullerton
Highlights:
• Neapolitan style pizza
• Cuban inspired taqueria
• Sandwich bar
• Hot and Salad Bar
• Walk up window for coffee

WEST LOOP
Square feet: Over 42,000
Open: March 25, 2015
Address: 1 North Halsted
Highlights:
• Made to order individual pizzas
• In-house pita bread station
• Local Baklava from Atopolis in bakery
• Mediterranean fare- chick shwarma and fresh falafel
• Red Star Bar - 24 taps on draft with a large whiskey selection

EDGEWATER
Square feet: Over 54,000
Open: April 29, 2015
Address: 6009 North Broadway
Highlights:
• Wood-fired grill
• Ramen station
• Naan and pita bread station- made in house
• Scratch bakery
• Cut to order pasta station with fresh specialty cheese
• Red Star Bar
• Wine bar
• Pickle bar

HIRING INFORMATION
Team Members: Hiring around 100-150 Team Members for each new location

Editors Note: Whole Foods Market officials will be available for interviews for 20 minutes after bread-breaking ceremony.

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