Whole Foods

[drum118]

I don't believe that date is correct. There's been a sign up for quite sometime saying "Opening Spring 2011".

And driving by today, they were putting up the lighted signage on the store. Me thinks it will open up within the next few weeks max.

Aug 10 is the official opening date.

 

[airplane-dude]

Aug 10 is the official opening date.

Well at this point, that's obvious...

They seem to be working on overdrive though, as they were still pouring the sidewalks around the store on Friday when I drove by...

 

[Northern Light]

Article from the Globe and Mail, profiling the Co-CEO of Whole Foods, Walter Robb.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...-growing-a-grocer-organically/article2226445/

Mostly about him and some historical info about their entry into the Canadian Market....

However, the one note of particular interest I picked out was the goal for 35 Canadian Locations within 5 years.

Currently they have 7, 3 in Ontario, 4 in BC

And 3 officially under development here (North York, Markham and Ottawa)

That leaves 25 more.

There are 2 widely discussed Toronto locations in the proposal stage.

After that we'll have to see where they land next.

 

[Jasonzed]

from today
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111007.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111008.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111013.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111020.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111018.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111017.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111015.jpg


Outdoor cafe along Rathburn
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii108/jasonzedd/Mississauga5/20120111009.jpg

 

[gregv]

Yorkville WFM tweeted today that the Bayview/Eglinton store is going ahead:

Yorkville WFM ‏ @yorkvillewfm

Just found out address of new store announced for Leaside! 1860 Bayview Ave. just north of Eglinton Avenue. No opening date yet.

 

[Roundabout]

Future location of the Bayview Whole Foods

 

[Roundabout]

October 26

 

[yyzhyd]

Whole Foods Unionville/Markham opened on Oct 12, 2012.
Nice store and a nice 3-5min drive from my house!

Would like to see them open one up in Woodbridge/Vaughan too.

 

[interchange42]

Long time no post in this thread.

The Whole Foods Website currently has no "Stores in Development" listed for Canada, that includes no listing for the Hullmark location, though we know it's moving forward. Current totals here: four are open in the Vancouver Area, four in the GTA.

Anyone have any updates on where the Canadian expansion plans stand at the moment, especially for the lot on Bayview in the photos above?

42

 

[Northern Light]

Long time no post in this thread.

The Whole Foods Website currently has no "Stores in Development" listed for Canada, that includes no listing for the Hullmark location, though we know it's moving forward. Current totals here: four are open in the Vancouver Area, four in the GTA.

Anyone have any updates on where the Canadian expansion plans stand at the moment, especially for the lot on Bayview in the photos above?

42

The 'stores in development' section of their website was 'shrunk' to only include stores with scheduled openings (or close to) as opposed to everything leased, or planned. Hence the Cdn locations falling off the list.

The original target date on Hullmark was 2013, that seems dubious now, but it should be a go for early 2014.
(no insider knowledge on that, just supposition)

Bayview/Eglinton is targeted for 2015.

Bathurst/Front gets a date when the condos under which it is to be located do, though I believe 2016 or sooner was the hope.

Canada wide the publicly stated goal is 40 locations.

There is one set for Burnaby, BC, Ottawa is under construction and set for early 2014.

They have admitted to scouting Alberta.

They are rumoured to have scouted a few more GTA locations along w/K-W and Ancaster.

Nothing certain beyond that.

I had expected more store announcements in the latest quarter (for Canada) they were not forthcoming, I would assume we will see something next quarter, which is about 2 months away.

***

Interestingly, their delays probably don't bode well for them here; as Loblaws is going ever greener, Sobeys has just hired 'Mr. Real Food' Jamie Oliver as its spokesperson; and local organic powerhouse Nature's Emporium has openly stated their desire to chain-ify and will be opening a second location (in Vaughan) this fall, adding to their Newmarket store.

I think they still have a 'brand-advantage' in the upscale/organic space......but they will have to hustle not to have their 'lunch' eaten by chains w/more buying power.

 

[Roundabout]

Looks like they are starting on the Bayview store:

 

[Roundabout]

Last night:

 

[bAuHaUs]

 

[PinkLucy]

Interesting cross-marketing and combination with Shoppers, given that Loblaws now owns Shoppers!

 

[Roundabout]

PinkLucy, where did you find the render?