Whole Foods to Expand C-Store Format to Three Major Cities

The grocery giant is bringing its Daily Shop concept to Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market is looking to expand its influence in the c-store space with the announcement that it will open new Whole Foods Market Daily Shops — the company’s smaller scale c-store format — in Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia over the next two years.

Whole Foods describes its Daily Shops as local neighborhood stops that bring high-quality food and everyday essentials to customers in a streamlined footprint, with an emphasis on efficiency and strategic product curation.

Ranging between 7,000 to 14,000 square feet, the quick-shop stores are about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 40,000 square foot Whole Foods Market store, paving the way for expansion in dense, metropolitan areas.

“Daily Shop is an important part of how we’re growing our physical store presence,” said Christina Minardi, vice president of real estate and store development at Whole Foods Market and Amazon. “As we expand this smaller format into new cities, we’re continuing to deliver the same high standards and carefully curated assortment Whole Foods Market is known for, in a way that meets our customers’ everyday needs.”

So far, three leases have been signed, with the stores opening in Boston’s Seaport district, Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood and South Street in Philadelphia.

Each store, according to a statement from Whole Foods, will be stocked with fresh produce, meat, seafood, prepared foods and bakery items. The stores will also highlight local and regional suppliers to offer a selection that reflects the community.

“These stores are designed with intention at every level, from layout to assortment,” said Stephanie Curley, senior manager of growth & innovation at Whole Foods Market and Amazon. “We’re able to introduce new merchandising approaches and fixtures that make it easier for customers to find what they need, while still delivering the quality and discovery they expect from Whole Foods Market.”

The Daily Shop concept was first launched in New York City in 2024. Recently, the concept was taken overseas with the first Daily Shop opening in London earlier this year. Additional sites are expected to open in London and New York later this year, the statement noted.