We told you in January that Whole Foods would be getting into the private label, smaller grocery store game with the 2016 launch of a new store called 365 by Whole Foods (Website). It's meant to compete with Aldi (Website) and Trader Joes (Website). Prices are generally cheaper than at traditional grocery stores and the store footprints are smaller.
From the 365 by Whole Foods Media Page:
The good news is Whole Foods opened a mega Whole Foods store on January 20th in Altamonte Springs and has one under construction in Winter Park. The chain isn't getting out of the big store model at all.
The bad news is Central Florida wasn't selected to get a location of 365 by Whole Foods according to the Orlando Business Journal.
Only 18 cities in the US were chosen to get a 365 by Whole Foods market in development. The only Florida city that's getting one (thus far) is Gainesville.
From the 365 by Whole Foods Media Page:
"365 by Whole Foods Market stores offer convenience and everyday low prices on natural and organic products that meet the company’s industry-leading standards for quality.
The first 365 by Whole Foods Market store opens May 25, 2016, in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Two additional locations—in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Bellevue, Washington—are scheduled to open in 2016, and up to 10 stores are expected to open in 2017.
365 by Whole Foods Market is led by Jeff Turnas, a 20-year Whole Foods Market veteran, who serves as the retailer’s president. Turnas, who has held various leadership positions on both the product and operations fronts, is based at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas.
“We are excited to introduce 365 by Whole Foods Market to bring healthy foods to even more communities with a fresh, quality-meets-value shopping experience that’s fun and convenient,” Turnas said. “A modern, streamlined design with innovative technology and a carefully curated product mix will offer an efficient and rewarding way to grocery shop.""