CASE STUDY: Amazon and Whole Foods Market Chelsea. Premium refrigeration by Epta UK

Whole Foods Market Kings Road Chelsea store Exterior

 

CHALLENGE

Bringing Premium Refrigeration to a New Flagship Store

After a decade-long pause on UK expansion, Whole Foods Market set out to open a flagship store in one of London’s most iconic locations — King’s Road in Chelsea. At 21,800 sq ft, the new store isn’t just the brand’s first UK launch in over ten years. It’s also one of their most ambitious, combining scale, sustainability, and experience in a single high-footfall location.

With its premium location and purpose-built design, the store demanded a refrigeration partner that could deliver on multiple fronts from energy efficiency, seamless performance, premium design, and alignment with Whole Foods’ high brand standards. The timeline was tight, expectations high, and the solution needed to flex between local production and global capabilities, all within a concept centred around quality, sustainability, and standout customer experience.

 

Whole foods Epta Eurocryor Bistrot and Country Sushi units for meat, fish, and sushi

 

APPROACH

Smart Design Meets Storewide Flexibility

Epta UK worked closely with Amazon and contractors to deliver a tailored refrigeration package through every phase of the project. Drawing on both Epta UK’s manufacturing expertise and the Group’s specialist portfolio, the team was able to meet complex design requirements and delivery timelines, including a unique challenge to match custom Pantone cabinet colours across two manufacturing sites in Europe.

The full refrigeration scope covered chilled, frozen, and hot food categories:

  • UK-manufactured cases
    Lion Eco and Gazelle Eco - ultra-low energy and locally made

  • On-brand aesthetics
    Custom Pantone cabinet finishes, colour-matched across two production sites

  • Specialist counters
    Eurocryor Bistrot and Country units for meat, fish, and sushi, plus Pepper for ambient impulse or cross-merchandising opportunities

  • Impulse units
    The Stage plug-in for seasonal and hot food zones

  • Advanced engineering
    Custom-coloured GranBering freezers built to meet both visual and operational demands at scale.

     

The Stage plug-in for seasonal and hot food zones at Whole foods Chelsea

 

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

A Full-Spectrum Refrigeration Solution

  • 21,800 sq ft flagship store. Whole Foods’ first and largest UK opening since 2014

  • UK-manufactured Lion, Gazelle Eco, and Pepper cabinets

  • Bespoke colour-matched finishes throughout

  • Eurocryor Bistrot, Country Sushi, Tower, and Stage units

  • GranBering freezers with custom door detailing

  • Engineered for stability across fresh meat displays, helping reduce downtime and product handling

  • Refrigeration across all departments: seafood, bakery, cheese, hot bar, coffee, and sushi.
     

Whole-Foods-Market-Kings-Road-Cheese

 

OUTCOME

A Premium Food Retail Experience

Delivered to brief, on time, and to a premium standard, the project showcases how refrigeration can elevate store environments, not just functionally, but experientially.

From local manufacturing to smart customisation, this installation demonstrates the value of flexible design and close collaboration. A premium retail space that delivers on performance, brand consistency, and customer experience — powered by Epta innovation.

 

Whole foods kings road store layout
 
 
“A real team effort and a fantastic showcase for Epta’s flexibility. Proud to see it come to life.”
- Simon Crook, UK&I Channel Manager, Epta UK

 

 

What's Next?

Let’s talk about your next premium retail project.

Telephone: 01274703200

Email: info@epta-uk.com