Whole Foods Market has said it is still working on expanding its UK footprint, despite its decision to close two stores and its Dartford distribution centre.
The proposed closures will see the Amazon-owned supermarket’s stores in both Richmond and Fulham Broadway close and operations at its Dartford DC cease.
The move “will allow us to invest in enhancing the customer and team member experience as we expand our footprint to serve more customers and communities in the UK”, a Whole Foods spokeswoman told The Grocer.
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In contrast to the closures, the organic food specialist confirmed it has signed a lease for a new store on King’s Road in London’s Chelsea, set to open next year.
Whole Foods has also hired real estate advisor Newmark to search for new potential sites, with a spokesperson telling The Grocer that the retailer was “actively exploring new sites and look forward to opening more stores”.
The supermarket, which was snapped up by Amazon in 2017 for £10.7bn, has seven stores across the UK, all in London, with its High Street Kensington site currently undergoing a store redevelopment.
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