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Whole Foods to Open Oakland Store

Specialty Food Association

Whole Foods Market will open a 31,011-square-foot store, located in Oakland, California on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The store’s design evokes the natural beauty of the nearby Temescal canyon, featuring warm, natural colors. The new location’s assortment emphasizes local products from Northern California overseen by Patrick Wyman, local forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northern California region.

Special features of the store include:

• Full-service meat counter with butchers to cut steaks to order or debone poultry. Department offerings include ready-to-cook seasoned or marinated meats, shabu shabu, and house-made sausage. Local options include air-chilled and organic chicken from Mary’s Chicken, sous vide chicken and pork carnitas from Roli Roti, locally-raised lamb from Pozzi Ranch, and organic 100% grass-fed and finished beef from Panorama.

• Prepared Foods section with hot and cold food bars, an array of made-to-order sandwich options, a Chef’s Case, and a local charcuterie selection. Customizable whole pizzas and pizza-by-the-slice are offered, as is grab-and-go sushi by Kikka.

• Specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers, artisan producers, and specialty foods. Local options include fresh burrata from Belfiore Cheese, California Black Mission Fig Jam from Jamology, and Charles Chocolates Raspberry Pistachio Ruby Chocolate Bar, made with ruby cacao beans.

• Cheese counter overseen by trained cheesemongers as well as a Certified Cheese Professional for on site for expert recommendations and assistance in creating custom boards for holiday entertaining.

• Full-service seafood counter featuring house-made garlic herb crab clusters, black truffle crab clusters, and stuffed whole fish. Local options include caviar and smoked sturgeon from Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, fresh oysters from Bodega Bay Oyster Co., and trout from Two X Sea. All offerings are either sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed.

• Bakery offering Berry Chantilly Cake, brown butter cookies, vegan croissants, and scones. The department also offers a variety of items for special diets, like gluten-free cupcakes from Antonina’s Bakery, allergen-free mini muffins from Abe’s, and keto cookies from Fancy Pants Bakery. Many bakery offerings are supplied locally, including hearth breads from Starter Bakery, seasonal pies from Pietisserie, and hearth bread and pastries from Firebrand.

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