Whole Foods Market has partnered with shade canopy company Vehicle Protection Structures (VPS) to install protective canopies over customer vehicles.
VPS is an established vehicle protection company that has mounted 95% of covered parking structures in North America.
The partnership aims to protect employees from adverse weather and improve the pickup process for shoppers at its Portland, Maine, Omaha, Nebraska and Austin, Texas curbside locations.
Keith Busam, VP of business development at VPS said: “Retailers know that curbside pickup is here to stay, and they’re looking for ways to make the experience as appealing as possible for their customers.
“With VPS structures, they’re not only enhancing convenience but also creating a more welcoming and intuitive space that improves traffic flow and reduces confusion.
“Whole Foods Market’s investment in covered pickup areas demonstrates their dedication to delivering an exceptional shopping experience.”
The grocery retailer plans to improve customer satisfaction by shielding the customer and staff vehicles from potentially damaging elements, aligning with Whole Foods’ drive towards customer satisfaction.
As a part of its plans, Whole Foods Market has recently expanded its retail footprint the UK, with a new store in London.
Amazon had previously acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017 and continues to consolidate operations to create a single business.
Amazon also promoted Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel to VP of Amazon Worldwide Grocery, which is a consolidation of brands under its portfolio.
Whole Foods Market currently operates around 500 stores in the US, UK and Canada.
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