Whole Foods is seeking stores of about 25,000 sq ft to 35,000 sq ft for its next UK shops.

The upmarket US grocer, which opened a flagship 80,000 sq ft store in London’s Kensington in 2007, said it is eyeing “a couple” more sites.

Speaking in the US on Tuesday, chief executive John Mackey said: “We thought right from the beginning that somewhere in the 25,000 sq ft to 35,000 sq ft size was appropriate for over there. Kensington was exciting, but that [smaller size] is what we’ve been looking at.”

The grocer said the UK’s regional president, Jeff Turnas, is “a little concerned” by Government cutbacks but that “comps have stayed nice through the summer” at Kensington.

Whole Foods reported group like-for-like sales increased 8.8% in the 12 weeks ending July 4.

Topics