Whole Foods Will Expand

Whole Foods Market (Austin, Texas) said it plans to open another 33 to 38 stores in its new fiscal year.

Jim Sud, executive vp for growth and business development, told the Austin American-Statesman that the number of new stores would be a record for the store.

Suud said the company learned it can successfully operate stores in smaller markets, especially through its acquisition of Wild Oats Market in 2007.

“As the company has grown over the years, our brand has strengthened, and I think that's the result of people having more exposure to Whole Foods and certainly the growth and awareness in natural and organics and healthy lifestyles,” Suud said. “We're seeing our stores in new markets open at higher volumes than historically. So we think we've got a really good runway for growth.”