NYC & Company and Whole Foods Market Partner to Launch GreeNYC Reusable Shopping Bags

NYC & COMPANY AND WHOLE FOODS MARKET PARTNER TO LAUNCH GREENYC REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS

Limited Edition Bags Available April 1 in Whole Foods Market Northeast Stores to Support New York City�s GreeNYC Campaign

New York, NY (March 26, 2008) NYC & Company, New York City�s official marketing and tourism organization, has partnered with Whole Foods Market to launch limited-edition 100% organic cotton shopping bags on sale beginning April 1 at all 16 Whole Foods Market stores in Northern New Jersey, New York and Southern Connecticut. April also marks Whole Foods Market�s nationwide goal to eliminate plastic grocery bags at checkout by Earth Day�a key component of Mayor Bloomberg�s GreeNYC�s consumer education campaign to help New Yorkers live green. �NYC & Company�s collaboration with Whole Foods Market is another great example of public-private partnership. It reaffirms our commitment to implementing Mayor Bloomberg�s GreeNYC campaign and our goal to make New York City the largest green city in the U.S,� said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. �Each bag sold can help eliminate the use of plastic bags, and we hope the initiative will encourage even more New Yorkers to take steps in their everyday lives that promote sustainable living.� �Making small changes can make a real difference. By using reusable bags instead of plastic ones, we can reduce our dependence on oil, reduce the amount of trash in our landfills and increase the quality of life for everyone,� said Jennifer McDonnell, green mission specialist for Whole Foods Market. The bag�s design features a green apple morphed with the symbol for infinity, the letters �NYC,� and the text: �Help Make NYC Greener.� Bags will be sold throughout April for $11.99 at all 16 Northeast Whole Foods Markets. For one bag sold, Whole Foods Market will donate $1 to MillionTreesNYC, a citywide collaboration between the Department of Parks & Recreation and the New York Restoration Project, a public-private initiative to plant and care for one million new trees across the five boroughs over the next decade.
MillionTreesNYC is a component of PlaNYC, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg�s plan for the New York City�s environment, including cleaner air, water and land. Launched in June 2007, GreeNYC an integrated marketing and advertising consumer education campaign that educates, engages and mobilizes New Yorkers on the simple steps they can take to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, and create a greener City. In addition to the GreeNYC bags, Whole Foods Market will no longer offer plastic bags in its stores, beginning Earth Day, April 22. Whole Foods Market customers who use their own cloth bags will receive a 10-cent discount on their purchases. Customers who do not have their own bags will be given recycled paper bags and encouraged to use their own disposable bags for future shopping. NYC & Company will support the initiative with street pole banners featuring green consumer tips, located in front of every New York City Whole Foods Market. Information on this and other green initiatives, including special Earth Day promotions, are available at nycgo.com.

About Whole Foods Market�Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is the world�s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America�s first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2007, the company had sales of $6.6 billion and currently has more than 270 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, �Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet�� captures the company�s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild�, and Harry�s Farmers Market� are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats� and Capers Community Market� are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc. Whole Foods Market employs more than 53,000 Team Members and has been ranked for 11 consecutive years as one of the �100 Best Companies to Work For� in America by FORTUNE magazine.

About NYC & CompanyNYC & Company is the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

Contacts
Kimberly Spell
NYC & Company
tel 212 484 1270
kspell@nycgo.com
Carli Smith
NYC & Company
tel 212 484 1284
csmith@nycgo.com