Whole Foods Market plans to open a new 42,000-square-foot store Feb. 5 at 1985 Highland Ave. in Cheshire, Connecticut.
The location’s product assortment features more than 1,000 items from New England, sourced with the help of John Lawson, forager for local and emerging brands at Whole Foods Market.
On opening morning, customers will receive samples from local suppliers. The first 300 shoppers will get a limited-edition Cheshire tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon for up to $100 off.
To mark the occasion, Whole Foods Market will provide an all-electric refrigerated van and food donation to Haven’s Harvest, which makes regular surplus food pickups from the grocer’s stores to help prevent food waste and serve the community.
Both donations are part of Whole Foods Market’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program, which aims to enhance the ability of local food rescue organizations to transport surplus food to areas facing the greatest need. The grocer also will make monetary donations to Cheshire Community Food Pantry and Connecticut Foodshare.
Features of the new store include an array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good produce. Local offerings include fresh-pressed juices from Ripe Bar Juice, herbs from Gilberties Organics, strawberries from Pell Family Farm and sweet potatoes from Oxen Hill Farm.
A specialty department dedicated to cheesemakers and artisan producers will offer local items, including Europa Gouda cheese from Arethusa Farm, Womanchego cheese from Cato Corner Farm and pesto from Bear Pond Farm. The cheese counter is overseen by trained cheesemongers who can offer recommendations.
The curated grocery section features local products, including sprouted power bowls from Aahana’s, pierogi from Jaju Pierogi and ice cream from New City Microcreamery.
Additional store features include a full-service seafood counter with sustainable wild-caught or responsibly farmed options, smoked fish from Acme Smoked Fish, Ivy City Smokehouse and Ducktrap, and fresh Blue Point oysters from Raw Seafoods.
The full-service meat counter has butchers available to cut steaks and poultry to order, featuring bacon and sausages from North Country Smokehouse and meatballs from Cooked Perfect.
The store also boasts more than 200 craft beers, with local options such as Run Wild IPA from Athletic Brewing Co., Baby Kittens IPA from Fat Orange Cat Brew Co. and Headway IPA from Counter Weight Brewing.
The prepared foods department includes fresh pizza, made-to-order sandwiches and sushi made fresh daily by Genji.
The bakery department features made-in-house bread, Berry Chantilly Cake, brown butter cookies and local offerings including artisan babkas from NAVAD Bakers, gluten-free baked goods from By the Way Bakery and handmade doughnut muffins and cookies from Bisousweet.
A wellness and beauty section features more than 100 local products, including handcrafted soap from Center Street Soap Co. and wellness shots from Queen Bee.
Founded in 1980, Austin-based Whole Foods Market is part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores and operates more than 545 stores across the U.S., Canada and the UK.