St. Louis welcomed a new destination for health-conscious shoppers and food enthusiasts on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, with the grand opening of Whole Foods Market at 4577 West Pine Blvd. This highly anticipated 28,480 square foot store brought a fresh and contemporary grocery experience to the Central West End neighborhood and surrounding St. Louis communities. For residents seeking the best in natural and organic foods, Whole Foods St. Louis quickly became a go-to location.
Discover a World of Flavor at Whole Foods Market Central West End
“At Whole Foods Market, our passion is deeply rooted in providing fresh, flavorful, natural, and organic foods,” stated Shawn Milford, the enthusiastic Store Team Leader of Whole Foods Market Central West End. His excitement was palpable as he added, “We are absolutely delighted to establish a store right here in the Central West End neighborhood and serve the wonderful surrounding communities.” This Whole Foods St. Louis location is designed to cater to everyone from the most dedicated health advocate to the passionate foodie, offering an unparalleled selection of products. Whether you’re searching for those hard-to-find specialty ingredients or simply stocking up on high-quality meats, poultry, and everyday pantry essentials, Whole Foods St. Louis has you covered.
Celebrating the Opening of Whole Foods St. Louis
The grand opening of Whole Foods St. Louis was marked with a unique “Bread-Breaking Ceremony,” a Whole Foods Market tradition. Team Members and Central West End neighbors gathered at 8:45 a.m. to participate in this special event, filled with community spirit and anticipation. As the doors officially opened for shopping at 9 a.m., the excitement reached its peak. The first 500 eager customers who stepped inside were greeted with a special surprise: a Whole Foods Market Gift Card, each holding a mystery value ranging from $5 to a generous $50. Adding to the thrill, one lucky shopper received a grand prize of a $500 gift card, making their first Whole Foods St. Louis experience even more memorable.
Join the Whole Foods Market Family in St. Louis
Beyond being a fantastic place to shop, Whole Foods St. Louis also presented exciting career opportunities. With plans to hire 100 new part-time and full-time team members, Whole Foods Market sought individuals who are passionate, caring, purposeful, and thrive in a team environment. A diverse range of experienced individuals were needed to fill various roles across departments, including Customer Service, Prepared Foods, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Bakery, Grocery, Whole Body, and the Beer, Wine and Cheese section. For those interested in joining the Whole Foods St. Louis team, applications could be submitted online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers.
Whole Foods Market is known for valuing its team members, offering competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package. Qualified team members at Whole Foods St. Louis could look forward to opportunities for growth and professional development, generous store discounts, and robust medical, dental, and vision plans. The benefits extended further to include life insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, leave of absence options, and even stock options, making Whole Foods St. Louis an attractive employer in the area.
Whole Foods Market: A Commitment to Natural and Organic
Whole Foods Market has solidified its position as the leading natural and organic grocer globally. A core principle of Whole Foods St. Louis and all locations is offering foods produced without artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and hydrogenated fats. More than just providing the freshest and healthiest options, Whole Foods St. Louis aimed to offer the widest selection of natural and organic foods at competitive prices, alongside gourmet delights sourced from around the world. Shopping at Whole Foods St. Louis is designed to be more than a chore; it’s envisioned as a dynamic and engaging experience, filled with high-quality products and unique, chef-driven food venues that cater specifically to the St. Louis community.
Since its inception in 1980, Whole Foods Market has operated with a clear and simple mission: to offer a superior alternative to conventional grocery stores. This mission remains at the heart of Whole Foods St. Louis and the entire company today. Whole Foods Market is driven by a purpose that extends beyond profit generation, aiming to create value for all stakeholders. This interconnected network is bound by a shared passion for natural and organic foods and a deep respect for environmental sustainability.
Shawn Milford aptly summarized the essence of Whole Foods St. Louis, stating, “Whole Foods Market is more than just a grocery store; it’s a driving force that is changing how people think about the ingredients in their food and its origins.” He emphasized the company’s strong belief that food in its purest form – free from artificial additives – is not only the most nutritious but also the most delicious. The founding principles that attracted shoppers to the first small natural and organic foods store continue to resonate deeply at Whole Foods St. Louis.
Transparency and Responsibility: Cornerstones of Whole Foods St. Louis
Whole Foods St. Louis upholds Whole Foods Market’s unwavering commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility. Shoppers at Whole Foods St. Louis benefit from numerous programs designed to provide clarity about their food – from its composition to its origins and environmental impact.
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Uncompromising Quality Standards: Whole Foods Market’s stringent Quality Standards are a defining feature of Whole Foods St. Louis. These standards prohibit artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and hydrogenated fats in all food products sold. A dedicated Quality Standards team collaborates with researchers and industry experts to meticulously evaluate and approve every ingredient used in Whole Foods Market products.
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Pioneering the Organic Movement: Whole Foods St. Louis stands as a testament to Whole Foods Market’s role as a pioneer in the organic movement. Offering an ever-expanding range of organic products, Whole Foods Market actively participated in the development of USDA organic standards and continues to work closely with the USDA to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of the organic label for consumers.
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Responsibly Grown Rating System: The Responsibly Grown rating system at Whole Foods St. Louis empowers shoppers to make informed choices about produce and flowers. This system utilizes scientific data to evaluate farming practices based on their impact on the environment and human health. It prohibits the use of eight of the most hazardous neurotoxins permitted in US agriculture and rewards growers who achieve organic certification and employ sustainable farming methods. The program comprehensively addresses key areas of sustainability, including pest management, farmworker welfare, water conservation, soil health, ecosystem and biodiversity protection (including pollinators), waste reduction, and air, energy, and climate considerations.
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Animal Welfare Commitment: All beef, pork, chicken, and turkey available at the Whole Foods St. Louis meat department comes from farms certified to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating program. This ensures that shoppers can easily understand how the animals were raised for the meat they purchase. Beyond species-specific standards, general animal welfare standards guarantee adequate space for animals to engage in natural behaviors and prohibit restrictive confinement practices.
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Sustainable Seafood Leadership: Whole Foods St. Louis adheres to the highest seafood quality standards in the grocery industry. Whole Foods Market was the first retailer in the U.S. to offer wild-caught seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. Furthermore, every seafood item at Whole Foods St. Louis is clearly labeled with its country of origin, whether it’s fresh or previously frozen, farm-raised or wild-caught, and its sustainability status. Whole Foods Market is also the only national grocer to have completely stopped selling red-rated wild-caught seafood, demonstrating a commitment to sourcing from well-managed fisheries. Their Responsibly Farmed seafood program ensures a consistent supply of high-quality, healthy protein from farms committed to environmentally responsible aquaculture practices. These standards were developed through extensive research, scientific review, and consultation with leading scientists and environmental organizations.
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Whole Trade® Guarantee: The Whole Trade® Guarantee available at Whole Foods St. Louis ensures that products like chocolate, coffee, produce, and flowers are sourced according to rigorous ethical trade, earth-friendly farming, and quality standards.
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Pioneering Plastic Bag Reduction: In January 2008, Whole Foods Market took a significant step towards environmental responsibility by becoming the first national grocer to eliminate disposable plastic grocery bags, a practice upheld at Whole Foods St. Louis.
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Certified Organic Grocer: Using California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a USDA-approved third-party certifier, Whole Foods Market became the nation’s first certified organic grocer after the implementation of National Organic Standards, a commitment reflected in Whole Foods St. Louis’s operations.
Whole Foods St. Louis is part of a larger Whole Foods Market presence in the St. Louis metro area, with two other established stores: Brentwood at 1601 S. Brentwood Blvd and Town and Country at 1160 Town and Country Crossing. The Central West End location further solidifies Whole Foods Market’s dedication to serving the St. Louis community with exceptional natural and organic grocery options.
