Sponsored By

Whole Foods Market makes entry into Wyoming

Acquisition expands specialty grocer’s footprint to 43rd state

Russell Redman

February 26, 2021

3 Min Read
Jackson_Whole_Grocer_banner-Wyoming.jpg
Plans call for Jackson Whole Grocer to stay open during the transition to the Whole Foods banner.Jackson Whole Grocer

Whole Foods Market this week entered Wyoming, its 43rd state, with the completion of its acquisition of independent supermarket Jackson Whole Grocer.

The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocery chain said the store, located at 1155 S. Highway 89 in Jackson, Wyo., will remain open during its conversion to the Whole Foods banner. The acquisition was announced last month.

A subsidiary of online retail giant Amazon, Whole Foods said Prime member benefits and curbside pickup won’t be available immediately at the Jackson store but that it’s working to make them available as soon as possible under the banner transition. Prime members who shop at Whole Foods have access to a range of benefits year-round, such as exclusive discounts on selected products and an extra 10% off hundreds of in-store sale items. 

“We are excited to expand our presence into Wyoming,” Bill Jordan, Rocky Mountain regional president at Whole Foods, said in a statement. “We look forward to getting to know the Jackson community — including residents and visitors — and providing them with products that all meet Whole Foods Market’s unparalleled quality standards, as well as a destination to discover new flavors and local items unique to this area.”

Whole Foods said it has offered jobs to as many qualified Jackson Whole Grocer employees as possible. To mark its entry into the Jackson community, Whole Foods will donate $25,000 to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and become a co-challenger for the 25th Annual Old Bill’s Fun Run in support of local nonprofits.

Related:Whole Foods Market launches free grocery pickup at all stores

On its Facebook page, Jackson Whole Grocer describes itself as a “one-stop shop offering organic, all-natural products and everyday essential and culinary delights.”

Jackson_Whole_Grocer-store-Wyoming.png

According to Jackson Whole Grocer owner Jeff Rice, Whole Foods is 'aligned with our mission of creating and sharing exceptional experiences in food and shopping.'

The store offers a wide assortment of natural and organic produce, an organic salad bar, sides and entrees, fresh baked goods, custom-made sandwiches, pizza, a taqueria, sushi and a specialty bakery. The meat and fish department specializes in regional meats and sustainable seafood, while an in-store beverage area offers beer, wine spirits with weekly tastings and “by the glass” service. Other features include a large bulk foods section; a “whole health” department with health care (including traditional and natural remedies) and beauty care products. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are available in all departments, according to the retailer.

“After much mindful consideration, we have decided to sell our business,” Jackson Whole Grocer owner Jeff Rice said in a statement on the retailer’s sale. “We are fortunate to have this opportunity with Whole Foods Market, an organization that is aligned with our mission of creating and sharing exceptional experiences in food and shopping.”

Related:Whole Foods sweetens urban appeal with new Manhattan, D.C. stores

Whole Foods now operates 503 U.S. stores overall. Currently, the only states where the chain doesn’t have stores are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North and South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. Later this year, Whole Foods reportedly plans to open its first store in Montana at the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman.

Most recently, Whole Foods opened stores in Boulder, Colo., on Feb. 24; Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 19; Asheville, N.C., on Dec. 8; and Westbury, N.Y., on Nov. 5.

Read more about:

Amazon

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like