It's Hip and Cool

Cheaper Whole Foods spinoff chain aimed at millennials finally has a name — and a promise

Whole Foods Market's new 365 chain is geared toward millennials.

Photo courtesy of Whole Foods

In May, Whole Foods Market announced it would be launching a new, separate chain tailored to a younger millennial audience. Now that chain has a name: 365 by Whole Foods Market.

According to a release, it will offer convenience and low prices on natural and organic products. 365 By Whole Foods Market is slated to begin appearing in 2016.

Jeff Turnas, a 20-year Whole Foods veteran, will serve as president of the new concept and will be based at the company's headquarters in Austin. Turnas' previous leadership positions include his role as president of the company's North Atlantic and U.K. regions.

Turnas says in a release that the 365 by Whole Foods Market experience will be both "efficient and rewarding" as well as "fun and convenient," with a modern, streamlined design and innovative technology. You can see Turnas in a YouTube clip, with his tousled millennial hair and casual millennial hoodie, describing the concept as "fresh" and "cool."

Whole Foods shoppers will recognize 365 as the existing generic store brand that does cheaper knock-offs of other brand-name goods.

But do you see yourself going to the store and shouting out to your honey, "Hey, I'm going to 365 By Whole Foods Market!" Probably not. Shortened to initials, it would be 365BWFM; that doesn't sound so great either. It'll probably be more like, "Hey, I'm going to 365."

According to Bloomberg, 365 By Whole Foods Market was not the only name the company considered. Other names included Dailyshop and Swiftgoods.

unspecified

oaks for everyone

Houston nonprofit plants its 1,000,000th tree in downtown park

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Trees for Houston has been planting trees across the city since 1983.

Local nonprofit Trees for Houston (TFH) celebrated an incredible milestone on Thursday, February 5, by planting its one millionth tree — a live oak — during a ceremony at Sam Houston Park with Mayor John Whitmire and other community leaders in attendance.

"Founded in 1983 as the Live Oak Society, TFH has helped plant, source, distribute, and care for trees across Houston’s streetscapes, parks, trails, and schools — strengthening neighborhoods and long-term resilience," said Whitmire. “I congratulate Trees For Houston on this important milestone. Trees bring beauty and shade to our neighborhoods and improve the air we breathe. Each tree is a symbol of our resilience and reflects who we are as a city today — and the legacy we are building for the future.”

Other attendees included Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Mister McKinney of the Heritage Society, Abner Lyons, Ashley De Leon from Harris County Precinct 4, and Commissioner Lesley Briones. Representatives from Chevron applauded the contribution of Chevron Tree Nursery in Trees for Houston's work.

Houston is an incredibly green city, with an estimated 49,624 trees per square mile making it one of the most forested metropolises in America. The oak tree in particular is a symbol of Houston history, with several trees like the Three Sisters of Montrose being major landmarks. Keeping a robust canopy over Houston has always been a point of pride.

However, the past four decades have been very hard on Houston's trees. Climate change, drought, insects, and rocketing temperatures have severely weakened the trees in Harris County. The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University estimates that for every two trees planted or regenerated in the city, one is lost. This makes the work of Trees for Houston even more necessary.

"Reaching one million trees is a milestone built over four decades by volunteers, supporters, and partners who believed Houston’s neighborhoods deserve a healthier, greener future," said Barry Ward, executive director of Trees For Houston."This milestone is a moment to reflect and to take the next step: planting and distributing more trees, strengthening the care that helps them thrive, and growing partnerships that can extend this impact beyond Houston over time."

The one millionth tree was planted next to the Kellum-Noble House, Houston's oldest standing structure. Built in 1847, the house became the residence for the keepers of Houston's first municipal park, making it the perfect place to celebrate such a landscaping feat.

Trees For Houston One millionth tree planting in Houston

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Trees for Houston has been planting trees across the city since 1983.

parks nonprofits