General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Neil deGrasse Tyson clarifies his remarks, re: GMOs. [View all]KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)1) Whole Foods is committed to labeling GMO with or without state and fed laws. March of 2013:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/whole-foods-gmo-labeling-2018_n_2837754.html
2) "Doors" already wide open and WFM knows it (see 3 below). WalMart has already started selling organics at conventional prices and at 25% below national competing brands. WalMart picked up the Wild Oats brand that the FTC made WFM abort a merger with. March of 2014:
http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2014/04/10/walmart-and-wild-oats-launch-effort-to-drive-down-organic-food-prices
Also looking for growth via sales of non-GMO organics: Costco, Sprouts, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's and Natural Grocers
3) Whole Foods business model differs from other supermarkets and big box stores by offering in-store prepared foods, supplements, and bath and beauty products (all higher margin than produce). They describe their strategy for holding off competitors like this:
http://fortune.com/2014/07/30/whole-foods-third-quarter-earnings/
Whole Foods strategy of pairing take-out food with groceries is now being replicated by other chains. Take-out food from WFM takes business away from fast food and fast casual dining outlets (Chipotle, Bennigans, etc.) and is higher margin than groceries, especially fresh produce. WFM's strategy does not include fighting labeling and perhaps this is because their better than industry profit margins are not coming from produce, fruit and veg sales.
http://fortune.com/2014/07/30/whole-foods-third-quarter-earnings/