Freshness and convenience unite to create experience ‘unlike any other in retail.’
With eight stores in the Chicago metro market, The Fresh Market is a specialty supermarket, primarily in upscale neighborhoods, known for its focus on fresh, high-quality foods.
The Fresh Market currently operates 172 stores across the U.S. The newest Fresh Market in Chicagoland, a 27,000 square foot location, opened in May in the suburb of Algonquin, IL, west of the Windy City. Earlier this year, The Fresh Market opened a store in Northbrook, another Chicago suburb.
As with other Fresh Markets, the Algonquin store combines upscale perishables and grocery with ready-to-eat food selections, including an in-house smoke-pit barbecue featuring fresh brisket, ribs and pork, and hot and fresh pizza. So, while consumers can focus on more traditional shopping trips, the Fresh Market provides choices for consumers who might need a little more convenience and can quickly pick up pizza, a bagged salad and some additional fixings.
EXPANDING MARKET
“The greater Chicago-area has presented us so many fantastic opportunities and we’re excited to bring our brand of impeccable hospitality to our new guests here in Algonquin,” says Fresh Market Chief Executive Brian Johnson in a company statement about the opening.
“The Fresh Market shopping experience is unlike any other in retail and I truly believe the community will resonate with what we have to offer, from our carefully curated selection of local and global products to our nationally recognized guest service.”
The Fresh Market in Wilmette, IL, got a new neighbor when Wayfair — the online home furnishings and decor giant — opened its first brick-and-mortar store in May 2024.
A spokesperson says The Fresh Market in Wilmette was one of the first in the Greater Chicago area. Between 2005 and 2011, The Fresh Market opened four locations in Chicago. Since 2024, however, the company has doubled its presence in the market, opening four more stores, with Algonquin being the latest.
PREMIER PRODUCE
As with Fresh Markets generally, produce is a significant and carefully merchandised department in the Wilmette store. In a March store visit, a display of bouquets topped off the produce department, merchandised with $69.99 bottles of champagne.
The produce section was compact, but included a well-maintained assortment that ranged broadly, especially considering the space allotted. Displays were typical in some regards, but also included unique combinations of products. The abundance and obviously well-attended displays suggested that The Fresh Market adjusted produce to the relatively limited space by devoting more than an average amount of labor to ensure that the variety was merchandised with continual care.
Just behind the floral display, the store mixed off-season, in the form of berries, with seasonal produce. The on-the-floor, crate-style display of berries fronted a presentation under a sign reading “Seasonal Citrus,” one that included a variety of bulk and bagged items.
In a small, separate fronting display, bagged Ruby Frost apples complemented the main display. Beside the apple display and before the cold case on one side of the department, grapes in various varieties trailed back.
Behind the apples, the floor displays got more eclectic, mixing bananas in with squash, bagged Yukon potatoes, kiwi, potatoes and onions, with apple and pineapple snacks in shelves underneath the produce. In front of the main display were multiple baskets of in-the-shell nuts.
Separate, but adjacent, was a full display devoted to tomatoes, bulk and packaged, with avocados, jars of minced garlic and bottles of olive oil.
Even more eclectic was the mix in the cold case, which included juices and other health drinks, followed by a 4-foot section of prepared food products. Packaged fresh mushrooms and herbs came up next, then bagged veggies and coleslaw mix. Bulk eggplant and artichokes followed, with cucumbers and ginger above adjacent to more tofu and squash.
Below stretched an expanse of head lettuce across 8 feet of space on the bottom of the case. The cold case proceeded with peppers, carrots, Brussels sprouts and greens loose and bagged in the case of Romaine hearts.
The case also featured bagged and clamshell salads, including organics, along with an array of fresh cuts with fruit in various-size tubs, as well as bagged, clamshell and tray-wrapped vegetables. The array of products included convenience items such as steam-bag diced asparagus and various mixes.
The produce department provided variety in a quick-to-shop format, including bulk, convenience and complementary products that could satisfy the weekly needs of busy shoppers or a quick trip to grab the evening dinner.
FACT FILE
The Fresh Market, Inc.
Headquarters: 300 N. Greene St., Suite 1100, Greensboro, NC 27401
336-272-1338
thefreshmarket.com
