Oklahoma City Grocers Beef Up Offerings Before Whole Foods’ Arrival

Shoppers sample gourmet Gruyere cheese, grab a sushi lunch, sip coffee in a French bistro-like setting, all while picking up their weekly groceries.

Sound like Whole Foods Market? Guess again. The scene is actually new to some local Buy For Less and Homeland locations. Both chains recently upgraded their stores, adding amenities and thousands of natural and organic products.

With all the anticipation surrounding Whole Foods' opening Oct. 12, and other new stores such as Sunflower Farmers Market and Natural Grocers, in Norman, it seems area grocery stores decided to get a little spiffed up.

"The consumer in Oklahoma City is going to be well served. I think we'll see all of our grocery stores raise the bar," said retail developer Jeff Norman, president of Oklahoma City-based JAH Realty. "We're all going to have better services at our local grocery stores."

To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Oklahoman