Wheatsville acquires two Fresh Plus stores

Austin grocer Wheatsville Co-op announced yesterday that it will acquire two Fresh Plus locations — one in Hyde Park and the other in Allandale.

Why it matters: The acquisitions are Wheatsville's first step toward small-format stores, an effort to serve more neighborhoods.

• The co-op's general manager Bill Bickford previously told Axios the co-op plans to open smaller stores while maintaining its South Lamar location.

Flashback: The co-op announced last year that it will close its Guadalupe Street store by the end of 2026, citing declining revenues and logistical challenges.

What they're saying: "This is not about changing what people love," Bickford said in a statement yesterday. "It's about making sure those places can continue to exist — as community-owned, locally driven spaces."