The first UK branch of Whole Foods Market has opened its doors in London.

The 80,000sqft store in upmarket Kensington is the biggest dedicated food store in the UK.

This marks a major step in the expansion of the business outside the US.

The US-based retailer - with its motto “whole foods, whole people, whole planet” - plans to tap into the growing interest in organic food among UK consumers.

Shoppers spent nearly £1.6 billion on organic products in 2006, and that is expected to grow by nearly a third to £2.4 billion by 2011, according to IGD.

Founder John Mackey said: “Whole Foods Market is committed to the goal of being the finest food shop in every community we serve, and our new London store will offer a fresh, vibrant choice.

“We want our shoppers to celebrate the joys of eating and living well. We hope Whole Foods Market will continue to prompt change in the way people think about and shop for food.”

Whole Foods started out in 1980 in Austin, Texas, with just 19 staff. It now employs more than 43,000 people.

The business has grown by buying up smaller organic, health or natural food stores across the US, expanding to Canada in 2002 and buying up seven Fresh & Wild stores in London in 2004.

Its stores in the US generate twice the profit per square of any other supermarket and some 20 new branched open every year.

Whole Foods turned over $5.6bn in 2006.

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