Next year, Schnuck Markets plans to open the second location of its Eatwell Market by Schnucks better-for-you store format.
Eatwell is targeted at consumers who prioritize health and wellness, natural and organic foods, and the “occasional splurge,” according to St. Louis-based Schnucks. The new Eatwell location, a 30,000-square-foot store at 220 THF Blvd. (63005) in Chesterfield, Mo., is slated to open in spring 2023 and will employ 105 associates.
Schnucks opened the first Eatwell store in June 2020 at 111 South Providence Rd. in Columbia, Mo., the former site of a 42,000-square-foot Lucky’s Market. Schnucks had acquired the leased store that March as part of an auction of bankrupt Lucky’s assets.
“We are excited to introduce Eatwell Market by Schnucks to customers in our hometown area,” Ted Schnuck, executive vice president of supermarkets, said in a statement. “Our company’s mission is to nourish people’s lives, and we will build on that by bringing customers a store where they can discover new, local items while staying focused on health and wellness.”
The new Eatwell will carry thousands of natural and organic products throughout the store, Schnucks said. Customers will find organically grown offerings and a wide array of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables in the produce area, while the meat department will specialize in products raised without added antibiotics or growth hormones. Amenities will include bulk foods such as nuts, seeds, dried fruit and grains; fresh-ground nut butters; a made-to-order drink area specializing in single-serve offerings of smoothies, coffee, tea, beer and wine; and Schnucks Delivers and Curbside Pickup service via the grocer’s partnership with Instacart.
“At Eatwell Market, we will strive to offer customers the best tasting food made from the best ingredients,” Schnuck added. “We look forward to soon welcoming shoppers to this location, where our goal will be to bring them a ‘beyond the expected’ shopping experience.”
When the new Eatwell opens, Schnucks will have a total of 115 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Both Eatwell locations also are in the area of Schnucks supermarkets, including one in Chesterfield and two in Columbia.
New retail formats and concepts are nothing new for Schnucks, which over its history has demonstrated its willingness to experiment. Most recently, in late August, the supermarket chain debuted the new Schnucks Express concept, which is connected to the EatWell store in Columbia. That came a year after the retailer unveiled a Schnucks Fresh grocery store in Jasper, Ind. And in November 2020, Schnucks rebannered and upgraded its ground-breaking “Culinaria” store in downtown St. Louis as “Schnucks Downtown.”
Todd Schnuck, chairman and CEO of Schuck Markets, has described Eatwell as a “great learning platform.”
“It is not the first time that we’ve launched a specialty store concept. Over our history, we have experimented and tried different formats. I would point to our Culinaria store in downtown St. Louis, which has more of a foodservice orientation, and you can do your full [grocery] shop,” Schnuck told Supermarket News in a July 2020 interview. “Going back over the years, we did some warehouse stores. And back in the mid-1970s, when we went from a traditional supermarket to a combination food and drug store. So experimenting and trying new things is really in our DNA.”