C O M I N G S O O N
she's seen customers become more deliberate with
how they spend their money because of economic
uncertainty; still, customers continue to value
quality.
"The customer cares about where the food is
coming from and we care about that equally," she
says. "You can come to our grocery store, trust the
product, and know that it's fresh…but we're very
price aware and make sure we cater towards what
the customer wants." —George Hajjar
a ton of local, New Jersey vendors," says Chase
Leonard. "We want to be a part of the community
and support where we are located."
Stew Leonard's taps hundreds of local farms
in the tri-state area for dairy and produce. "Some
of our best products come from New Jersey, from
blueberries to asparagus," said Stew Leonard, Jr,
president and CEO. Stew Leonard's team endeavors
to offer high-quality and specialty products while
keeping prices reasonable. Chase Leonard says that
Whole Foods Plans Urban Format, Eataly Enters Jersey
Whole Foods Daily Shop will debut later this
year on New York City's Upper East Side
and Eataly will launch its first New Jersey
location in the Short Hills Mall in Millburn,
New Jersey.
Whole Foods' latest quick-shop format
is designed to provide customers in urban
neighborhoods with a convenient shopping
experience with access to fresh, high-
quality offerings, according to the retailer.
The locations range between 7.000 and
14,000 square feet, roughly a quarter to
half the footprint of an average standard
format location.
"At our new store formats, we're
tailoring every square foot to the unique,
fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles," says
Christina Minardi, EVP of growth and
development at Whole Foods Market &
Amazon, in a statement.
"We're excited to introduce a new way
for our customers to quickly pick up their
Whole Foods Market favorites–from grab-
and-go meals to that last-minute dinner
ingredient–making the early morning or
after-work grocery trips more efficient and
enjoyable."
The format will prioritize private-label
offerings, grab-and-go meal solutions and
snacks, local offerings, fresh meat and
seafood, and fresh seasonal produce, says
Whole Foods.
Following the New York City launch, the
retailer intends to bring the format to other
cities across the country.
Construction on the latest Eataly
location has begun and is expected to
be complete before the end of the year.
The New Jersey store will feature various
restaurants and cafes, a pasta bar, a meat
and cheese counter, a pizzeria counter,
and a gelato shop. Italian groceries and
household items will also be available for
purchase, according to NJ.com.
Additionally, the location may hold
classes and events related to Italian cooking
and culture, as in its other locations.
Eataly did not respond to Specialty
Food's request for comment.
Founded in Turin, Italy in 2007, the
food destination has since expanded to
Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas,
Las Vegas, Silicon Valley, California, two
New York locations, and Istanbul. —G.H.
PHOTO: WHOLE FOODS
24 SPECIALTY FOOD SPECIALTYFOOD.COM
STORE TOUR
PHOTOS: STEW LEONARD'S
