Cheshire, Conn., January 7, 2026 – Fresh produce, artisan cheeses, and sustainable seafood got a major new home in Cheshire.
Whole Foods Market opened a new 42,000-square-foot store at 1985 Highland Ave. on February 5, 2026. The opening of this grocery store marked a significant expansion for the natural and organic food retailer, promising a robust focus on local products and a suite of community initiatives.
The doors opened at 8:00 a.m. on opening day, with regular hours running from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily. What truly set this location apart, however, was its commitment to regional sourcing.
The Cheshire store’s product assortment boasted more than 1,000 local items from New England, curated with the help of John Lawson, Forager for Local & Emerging Brands at Whole Foods Market. This emphasis on local highlighted a growing consumer demand for locally sourced, transparently produced goods, but one had to wonder if Whole Foods truly delivered on this scale.
The features of the new Cheshire store were designed to cater to a discerning clientele:
- Produce: Certified organic, conventional, and Sourced for Good produce, including fresh-pressed juices from Ripe Bar Juice, herbs from Gilberties Organics, and strawberries from Pell Family Farm and sweet potatoes from Oxen Hill Farm.
- Specialty: A dedicated department celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers, with local items like Europa Gouda cheese from Arethusa Farm and Womanchego cheese from Cato Corner Farm and pesto from Bear Pond Farm.
- Grocery: Exclusive brand favorites and local products, including sprouted power bowls from Aahana’s, pierogi from Jaju Pierogi, and ice cream from New City Microcreamery.
- Seafood: A full-service counter offering sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed finfish and shellfish, plus smoked fish from Acme Smoked Fish and Ivy City Smokehouse, and fresh Blue Point oysters from Raw Seafoods, and smoked salmon from Ducktrap.
- Meat: A full-service counter with butchers available to cut to order, featuring bacon and sausages from North Country Smokehouse and locally-sourced pork, meatballs from Cooked Perfect.
- Beer: An extensive selection of over 200 craft beers, including local options like Run Wild IPA from Athletic Brewing Co. and Baby Kittens IPA from Fat Orange Cat Brew Co, and Headway IPA from Counter Weight Brewing.
- Prepared Foods: Fresh pizza, made-to-order sandwiches, and sushi made fresh daily by Genji.
- Bakery: In-house bread, Whole Foods Market’s Berry Chantilly Cake, and local offerings like artisan babkas from NAVAD Bakers and gluten-free baked goods from By the Way Bakery and handmade doughnut muffins and cookies from Bisousweet.
- Wellness & Beauty: Over 100 local products, including handcrafted soap from Center Street Soap Co. and wellness shots from Queen Bee.
Beyond the aisles, Whole Foods Market stepped up its community engagement. In celebration of the opening, they provided an all-electric refrigerated van and a food donation to Haven’s Harvest, an organization that prevents food waste. This was part of Whole Foods Market’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program.
Monetary donations were also made to Cheshire Community Food Pantry and Connecticut Foodshare. This aligned with Whole Foods Market’s rigorous quality standards, which banned hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and over 300 other ingredients.
For Prime members, the benefits continued with deep discounts, an additional 10% off sale items, and convenient payment options like Amazon One.
Founded in 1980 and part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, Whole Foods Market operated over 545 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
The Cheshire opening marked a clear commitment to local sourcing and community support, setting a high bar for its regional impact.
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