NY Times: Whole Foods Looks for a Fresh Image in Lean Times

[marmar]

I guess they're hoping the nickname "Whole Check Market" will go away, too. :)



Whole Foods Looks for a Fresh Image in Lean Times

By ANDREW MARTIN
Published: August 2, 2008


PHILADELPHIA — Shawn Hebb may have one of America’s toughest jobs: convincing people that Whole Foods Market can be an economical place to shop.

This week, leading five customers through a store here, he breezed past the triple cream goat cheese, $39.99 a pound, and the fresh tuna, $19.99 a pound, to focus on the merits of beans, chicken thighs and frozen fish.

Then he held up a $1.50 package of tofu. “It looks gross but it’s delicious,” he said.

Whole Foods Market is on a mission to revise its gold-plated image as consumers pull back on discretionary spending in a troubled economy. The company was once a Wall Street darling, but its sales growth was cooling even before the economy turned. Since peaking at the beginning of 2006, its stock has dropped more than 70 percent.

Now, in a sign of the times, the company is offering deeper discounts, adding lower-priced store brands and emphasizing value in its advertising. It is even inviting customers to show up for budget-focused store tours like those led by Mr. Hebb, a Whole Foods employee.

But the budget claims are no easy sell at a store that long ago earned the nickname Whole Paycheck. Told of the company’s budget pitch by a reporter, some Whole Foods customers said they had not noticed cheaper prices; a few laughed. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/02/business/02food.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

[JBoy]

1. Interesting article.

Not surprised they've fallen on hard times. People will give up expensive foods before giving up their expensive cars.

[aasleka]

2. Whole Paycheck sucks imo

Many times getting seitan that is bad, even tofu, rocks in the bread and they don't even offer vegan baked goods?!!! They are incredibly expensive and your local stores will pick up those Tofurkey's if you ask them nice enough. Farmer's market and regular grocery that supplies the same stuff, better quality for less. Also maybe it is just Raleigh and Durham but can anyone get any help in Whole Foods?

Whole Foods went on my "does not get my money" list.

[marmar]

3. I love their baked goods and Allegro coffee......

..... but I've become a big fan of the local farmer's markets since food and gas prices have gone apeshit.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Carlyle Group Owns 7.6% of Whole Foods common stock...

http://www.secinfo.com/$/SEC/Filing.asp?T=UqRq.8h_5us

[LeftyMom]

14. I much prefer my local food co-op

They have a better selection of vegan goodies, a no transfat policy, better prices, more local and organic produce, AND their employees are union.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. Their guns are quiet now

but they were once (and will be again) gunning for the locally owned natural grocery where I punch a timeclock. After absorbing the other local natural foods chain, the WF people were left scratching their heads when their chow wasn't attracting informed (or just well-heeled) shoppers. It's because they absolutely failed to see Portland's locally-raised, sustainable culture, and how Portlanders always pick to support the local option.

Most people here see them as just another BigBox grocery chain. Just the walls are painted green.

[madeline_con]

8. I'm assuming you're in Portland, OR (there are others)

I've heard very goods things about your city and its commitment to sutainable living. :hi:

[KittyWampus]

6. Long Island has a chain called "Wild By Nature" owned by the same guy who has King Kullen

great stores, great variety.

They seem to do well enough.

It's really a nice grocery store where the overwhelming majority is whole foods and hard to find stuff.

[madeline_con]

7. I can buy beans, chicken thighs and frozen fish anywhere.

Why would I shop in a place with a name like that?

[JI7]

9. why are they so expensive anyways ?

[latebloomer]

10. I shop there a lot

because I try to eat healthy, organic when possible. But the prices really piss me off. If I shop around I can find cheaper organic products at regular supermarkets- they just don't have anywhere as wide a selection as WF. And there are certain items I just can't find anywhere else. But I try to go to Shop-Rite once a week and get all the non-organic and household stuff there.

I'm glad they're getting nervous- they recently put out a booklet showing how cheaply you can make meals from their products. Maybe they'll lower some of their prices. Even their non-organic produce is ridiculously expensive.

[kestrel91316]

11. I just bought about 10 lb of hard red wheat there today.

I don't shop there as much as I'd like to because:
A) They are a couple of miles out of my way.
and
B) They are EXPENSIVE.

That said, they have the best quality produce of any grocery in town. Period. And I can find things there that I can't get anywhere else, like the wheat, which I grind for flour and use as cracked wheat and wheat berries.

[Snarkturian Clone]

12. That guy DOES have a hard job, since in Philly

there are only 2 Whole Foods... one is near Trader Joe's (same shit a lot cheaper) and the other is next to a Super Fresh (2/3 the price) and near the Italian Market (1/3 the price) and Sav-A-Lot (1/10 the price).

[Withywindle]

13. There used to be a time when they had great bulk bins.

Aisles and aisles of 'em - all my granola friends used to shop there (at least, the ones who didn't WORK there). It's almost all Purina Yuppie Chow now. Even when I'm feeling a little flush and want to indulge myself on something a little luxurious, Trader Joe's has a lot of the same stuff at half the price.

That said, though, yesterday I did notice their creamed herring is cheap and bought some. But if that were fashionable I imagine they'd jack the price up promptly.