Whole Foods to Open Lower-Price Stores in 9 States

Whole Foods Market — which has earned the nickname of “Whole Paycheck” due to its relatively high prices — debuted the first store in its new budget-friendly grocery store chain this week.

The “365 by Whole Foods Market” store opened Wednesday in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood, and the next two locations are scheduled to open this year in Oregon and Washington. Whole Foods Market expects to open as many as 10 additional 365 stores next year. You can find a list of locations below.

The 365 chain targets budget-conscious shoppers and millennials, offering what Whole Foods Market describes as “convenience and everyday low prices on natural and organic products that meet the company’s industry-leading standards for quality.”

Reuters reports that 365 stores will be about one-third smaller than Whole Foods Market stores, helping to reduce overhead costs.

Another example of how the stores are cutting costs is the decision to substitute an iPad wine app for the human wine experts found in Whole Foods Market stores. There are no butchers and cheesemongers at 365 stores either, as meat and cheese come in grab-and-go packages.

Other features distinct to the 365 stores include produce priced per piece or per package rather than per pound, and more nonorganic produce.

The locations for 365 stores that are currently in development are:

California

• Santa Monica — opening date TBA
• San Francisco — opening date TBA
• Concord — opening date TBA
• Claremont — opening date TBA
• Los Alamitos — opening date TBA
• Long Beach — opening date TBA
• North Hollywood — opening date TBA

Oregon

• Lake Oswego — opening July 14

Washington

• Bellevue — opening fall 2016

Texas

• Houston — opening date TBA
• Cedar Park — opening date TBA

Ohio

• Cincinnati — opening date TBA
• Akron — opening date TBA
• Toledo — opening date TBA

Illinois

• Evergreen Park — opening date TBA

Indiana

• Bloomington — opening date TBA

Georgia

• Decatur — opening date TBA

Florida

• Gainesville — opening date TBA

What’s your take on the 365 by Whole Foods Market chain? Would you want to shop there? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.