Hundreds pack into new Whole Foods store

Published 3:22 pm Wednesday, March 28, 2012

LYNNWOOD — Whole Foods Market opened its first Snohomish County store in Lynnwood on March 15 with a bread-breaking ceremony that symbolized the store’s focus on “breaking bread with the community,” said the store’s team leader, Mindy Jahn. “We’ve had a wonderful welcome here.”

Nearly 300 people showed up for the opening. Dignitaries who helped break that loaf of bread included Jahn, Whole Foods Market regional vice president Tee Ayer, regional president Joe Rogoff, Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough and Shannon Affholter of Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1980, Whole Foods Market has 315 stores in North America and the United Kingdom with 64,000 employees, or team members as they’re called by the chain. Fortune magazine has named the business one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for 14 consecutive years.

Whole Foods Market is the nation’s leading retailer of natural and organic food and the first nationally certified organic grocer. Health Magazine has named it America’s healthiest grocery store. Its motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet,” reflects its mission and goals of ensuring customer satisfaction and good health.

“Customer comments have been wonderful,” Jahn said. “We’ve also had suggestions about how to improve, which is how we operate, seeking customer feedback. Right now, we’re still experiencing the early crowds of a lot of smiling people who are glad we’re here. In a while, we’ll be settled into a more regular operation. We’ve been so busy since the opening that we’ve set up a valet service for customers to help handle the crowds.”

Jahn said the store’s location at 2800 196th St. SW, a former Circuit City store near Alderwood mall, is a perfect location.

“We were attracted to Lynnwood by its location, near the intersection of I-5 and I-405, but also by the way Mayor Don Gough and people at Economic Alliance Snohomish County wanted us here and helped us so much,” she said.

Whole Foods Market seeks out the finest quality natural and organic foods that meet the highest standards in the grocery industry, store executives said. That means marketing nutritious foods that lack artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservatives.

The Whole People concept focuses on being passionate about healthful food and a healthy planet, as well as a respectful workplace where people are “treated fairly and are highly motivated to succeed,” according to the company’s website, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/lynnwood. The Whole Planet philosophy is a commitment to caring for “the world around us,” including support for local food banks, sponsoring neighborhood events and donating to local nonprofit groups involved in healthful eating and nutritional living.

One of the store’s suppliers is Willie Green’s Organic Farm in Monroe, which recently received a loan from the store to build five new greenhouses.

The store is hosting a food drive benefiting the Lynnwood Food Bank through April 15. Drop boxes near customer service have been set up for donations.

Jahn said she’s excited about the store’s new children’s play area, the first in the Northwest for Whole Foods Market. The Kids Club offers toys, a seating area for adults, and healthful snacks, including fresh fruit and boxed raisins. There will be special events at 2 p.m. Saturdays, focusing on cooking, gardening and recycling.

Other attractions at the new Lynnwood market include a cooking department that highlights fresh, local foods and healthful recipes; a variety of prepared foods for lunch time, including hearth-baked pizza, fresh salads and panini sandwiches; a large selection of wine, beer and hard ciders from local sources; a coffee bar; organic baked goods that include gluten-free products; and a grind-your-own almond and peanut butter station.

Store shopping tours will be available, tailored to special diets that avoid food allergies, provide guides to healthful back-to-school eating and shopping on a budget. Private tours can be arranged by request for schools and senior centers.

Whole Foods Market is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The store’s coffee bar opens at 7 a.m. daily.