We’ve been talking about Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market coming to Short Pump since way back in November. Well, my friend from journalism school back at VCU,  Jack Cooksey, over at Richmond Magazine picked up the story and has done a great job on the Grocery Wars and what these changes will mean to Ukrop’s and the rest of the Richmond grocery market.

Within the next two years, supermarkets around the region will launch an onslaught of changes. In an age when shoppers have more choices than time, the list of new developments is so extensive, it’s enough to make the Pillsbury doughboy’s head spin off.

The list includes no fewer than seven new grocery stores, at least three store expansions and a wave of remodeling projects.

The region’s big “gets” — in the opinion of many foodies — are the two major chains coming to Henrico County’s retail mecca, Short Pump. By 2009, Whole Foods Market plans to open a 35,000-square-foot store in West Broad Village, and Trader Joe’s is expected to arrive later this year with a 12,500-square-foot store in the adjacent Short Pump Station.

By November, Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer The Fresh Market expects to open its second store in the region on Huguenot Road, in space formerly occupied by a Barnes & Noble near Midlothian Turnpike.

Check out the whole story for some good reading on Richmond’s food industry about to change.   I also really like the price comparison snapshot feature, so one can all see an example of price differences at the local stores.