HOLBROOK, N.Y. – Whole Foods Market will open its newest Long Island location on March 5, a 43,000‑square‑foot store at the Shops at SunVet at 5801 Sunrise Highway. The chain gave the press a store tour today before tomorrow's grand opening.
The Holbrook store marks Whole Foods Market’s eighth location on Long Island, its 549th store company‑wide across the U.S., U.K. and Canada, and its 532nd in the United States. Designed with touches inspired by Long Island’s coastal heritage, history and artistic culture, the new store brings together modern grocery innovation and strong regional ties.
A Celebration of Local Food Culture
Long Island shoppers will find more than 900 local products sourced throughout the Northeast—primarily from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut—curated with the help of John Lawson, Whole Foods Market’s Forager for Local & Emerging Brands.
Local cider and craft beer also receive special emphasis, with 290 craft beers and ciders in total and 85 local selections from regional breweries and fermenters.
The team has focused heavily on local cider makers and microbreweries. As a company spokesperson noted, “There are a lot of great cider producers using New York apples.”
Commitment to Organic Standards
Whole Foods Market highlights its long‑held commitment as the first and only certified organic national grocer in the U.S. Each store undergoes annual third‑party audits, ensuring strict organic integrity.
Visitors touring the produce department will notice thoughtful details—like placing organic greens on the top racks of the wet wall so water spray never drips onto conventional produce. “These are the types of practices we’re audited for,” a team member explained. “It’s a big undertaking, but it ensures we’re upholding organic integrity,” said a Whole Foods spokesperson.
Source for Good
Several produce items—including bananas, sweet potatoes, pineapples and select floral items—participate in the Source for Good program. Proceeds return directly to farming communities, supporting education, transportation and local infrastructure.
Also featured is the newer Source for Good coffee line, launched in 2024, which channels funds back to coffee‑growing communities.
Full‑Service Meat, Seafood & Artisanal Expertise
The store features in‑house butchers who break down cuts daily, including house‑made sausages—a Whole Foods Market tradition. One merchant who now oversees the sausage program for all stores began his career as a sausage maker 16 years ago.
The seafood department includes trained fishmongers offering filleting, oyster shucking and guidance on sustainable selections. Oysters will be a Friday favorite: Prime members can purchase 12 for $12, with complimentary shucking.
Seafood sourcing meets either Marine Stewardship Council certification for wild‑caught fish or responsible aquaculture standards for farmed seafood.
Specialized Cheese Expertise
Holbrook is now home to a Certified Cheese Professional, a title earned through rigorous training conducted with the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and culminating in an intensive exam administered by the American Cheese Society.
Whole Foods Market is the largest employer of Certified Cheese Professionals worldwide, offering shoppers expert guidance on flavor profiles, pairings and specialty selections—including authentic, two‑year‑aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
Bakery With No Bleached or Bromated Flour
The bakery adheres to Whole Foods Market’s longstanding ingredient standards:
- No bleached or bromated flours
- No synthetic food dyes — all colors come from fruit and vegetable extracts
The Bakery department offers bread baked fresh daily as well as everyday favorites, such as Whole Foods Market’s Berry Chantilly Cake and brown butter cookies. The department also carries a wide variety of special diet items. Local offerings include cheesecake from Junior’s, mini muffins from Abe’s and breads from Balthazar Bakery.
The store also supports bakery apprenticeships and other craft‑training programs for decorators, butchers, pizza makers and produce specialists.
A curated grocery section is filled with exclusive brand favorites and products from local suppliers including Backyard Brine, The Hamptons Honey Company, Black Seed Bagels and Loopini Protein Pizza.
Prepared Foods and New Family Meal Program
The store’s prepared foods area features salad and hot bars, a soup station and the new Build‑Your‑Own Family Meal program, launched in fall 2025 and popular on social media. Customers choose one entrée and two sides for a balanced, ready‑to‑heat meal suitable for dinner or weekly meal prep.
The Wellness & Beauty department with a wide range of body care, beauty, lifestyle and supplement products.
Technology and Convenience: Dash Carts Arrive in Holbrook
Holbrook becomes one of only four Whole Foods Market stores to feature third‑generation Amazon Dash Carts. Shoppers log in using Amazon credentials, and the smart carts track items automatically using scanners and weight‑sensing technology. Shoppers can weigh produce directly in the cart, bag items as they go and skip the traditional checkout line.
Opening morning, customers will enjoy samples from NAVAD Bakers and coffee from Sail Away Coffee Co. The first 300 customers in line will receive a limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon featuring savings up to $100 off.
To celebrate the opening, Whole Foods Market will provide a food donation to We All We Got, Inc., which makes regular surplus food pickups from local Whole Foods Market stores to help prevent food waste and serve the surrounding community. The nonprofit previously received a refrigerated van through 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 provide monetary donations to Pronto of Long Island and Branches Long Island.
