Philadelphia’s grocery market is seeing a new wave of expansion, led by Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts Farmers Market. Competition for sites is heating up, fueled in part by continued apartment development in the city and new housing growth in the suburbs.
Whole Foods is planning two Philadelphia locations for its smaller-format Daily Shop concept, including a 13,860-square-foot store in Fitler Square and a 9,400-square-foot location in Fishtown. The grocer is also planning a traditional store in Collegeville. Trader Joe’s recently announced plans for a new South Philadelphia location, while Sprouts is expanding with stores in Havertown — taking over a former Amazon Fresh — and Sewell, New Jersey.
The specialty expansion comes despite some recent grocery contraction in the region. Six Amazon Fresh stores and six Grocery Outlet locations have closed, while Di Bruno Bros. recently shuttered three of its five stores. At the same time, traditional operators continue to invest in the market, including Met Fresh Supermarket and ShopRite.
The activity underscores the continued evolution of the Philadelphia grocery landscape, with specialty and smaller-format concepts increasingly competing for locations alongside the region’s established supermarket operators.
