Whole Foods Market Expands In Illinois

St. Charles, Illinois, is home to the newest Whole Foods Market, as the grocer has opened its new 36,234-square-foot store at 300 S. 2nd Street.

Located in Chicago's western suburbs, the store's product assortment includes more than 650 locally sourced items from the Midwest.

"I am so excited to help open the first Whole Foods Market in St. Charles," said Kristina Malicoat, store team leader for Whole Foods Market. "The local community's engagement and anticipation for this new store truly inspires me and my team, and we cannot wait to provide this wonderful community with excellent service and a wide selection of products that meet our high standards for ingredients and sourcing."

Grand opening celebrations featured free coffee and mini waffles, along with snack bars. Additionally, the first 300 shoppers in line received a limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon, featuring offers of up to $100 off.

Whole Foods Market also provided a food donation to HCS Family Services, which makes regular surplus food pickups from local Whole Foods Market stores to help prevent food waste and serve the surrounding community. The grocer will also donate an all-electric refrigerated van to the nonprofit organization.

Both donations are part of Whole Foods Market's Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program, which aims to enhance the ability of local food rescue organizations to transport surplus food to areas facing the greatest need. Whole Foods Market will also make monetary donations to area organizations, Lazarus House and Fox Valley Food for Health.

Whole Foods Market also presented Chicago-based supplier Evergreen with a low-interest loan through the Whole Foods Market Lending Program to help grow its operations and support expansion to more Whole Foods Market locations. To date, the retailer has provided 419 loans, representing roughly $35.7 million in capital for recipients.