Whole Foods Market® Arabella Station Re-Opened to New Orleans Community Today

Austin, Texas —  Whole Foods Market® (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, re-opened its 30,000 square foot Arabella Station store to the New Orleans community today. The store - located at 5600 Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans - will once again provide area residents with the finest selection of seafood, meats, cheese, produce, prepared foods and freshly baked goods.

"We are ecstatic to be back in the neighborhood and see familiar faces again! We have committed to being a part of the New Orleans community for many years to come," said Store Team Leader Tarek Zada. "We welcome everyone back to the store with open arms."

During the opening ceremony, Arabella Station contributed $1,000 to the local food bank, Second Harvesters, to assist families throughout the area. Whole Foods Market will also continue its support for other local organizations through participation in community fundraisers and donations.

Originally opened in December 2002, the Arabella Station store welcomed shoppers and Team Members back with a king cake cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. and live music from the Treme Brass Band and Some Like it Hot playing Dixieland Jazz. Team Members wore colorful masks and second-lined into the store in celebration of the opening after a five-month hiatus.

The store continues to have one of the largest selections of fresh sparkling seafood in the city. In addition, it offers shoppers a world-wide selection of cheeses from around the world; more than 24 varieties of olives from the olive bar; imported and domestic wine and beer; fresh-roasted coffee from the in-store coffee roaster; natural and organic supplements and body care products and extensive bulk items. The prepared foods section features a rotisserie, hearth pizza oven, sandwich station and two salad bars, in addition to restaurant quality entrées and side dishes prepared fresh everyday. Soups have always been a focal point for the store with stations in seafood, meat and prepared foods serving everything from cioppino and chili to gumbo. Arabella Station will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

Whole Foods Market open approximately 10,000 square feet of the Veterans store in Metairie, LA on November 1, 2005, and have since expanded to 20,000 square feet and will soon add on. Essentially, the Metairie location has everything available except the behind-the-counter service.

Ashley Hawkins
For media inquiries inquires in these states, please contact Ashley Hawkins at 512.542.0381 (Ashley.Hawkins@wholefoods.com.)

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Kate Lowery
For general or national media inquiries, please contact Kate Lowery at 512.542.0390 (Kate.Lowery@wholefoods.com.)