Heard from two separate people in the grocery biz that a Whole Foods will be plopping in next to Bass Pro. Anyone else heard anything?
Rumor Confirmation Part Deux
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According to their website link: Stores in Development-there are none listed.
I know that the area was turned down in the past due to lack of meeting their demographic criteria. I would love to have one nearby, I need a place to park my Volvo.
Mall*Wart, Meijer, Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Whole Foods that close together?
GROCERY SURVIVOR!
posted by anonymouscoward on Jan 14, 2008 at 09:01:16 am #
I know Whole Foods used to look for areas with a little bit more wealth than NW Ohio to build stores -- there was(is?) a link on WholeFoods.com to a real estate page that listed all the criteria for they look for before building a store. The traffic from Bass Pro and Whole Foods joining forces with Wild Oats could make a move into smaller, less affluent markets more feasible.
A lot of folks from around the PBurg area drive up to the one in Ann Arbor because there is just no store in the area that comes close to their offerings. A store around this area would make sense from a connect-the-dots standpoint, as a store by Bass Pro would be a good midway point between their current stores.
I hope, I hope. I love that place
I do too. My wife is a Perrysburg chamber member and has pushed for one as has Larry Dillin of Levis Commons.
As mentioned above there is a lot of grocery competition out there but, Whole Foods has their niche. So, who knows?
Meanwhile I continue to make monthly pilgrimages to A2 for Whole Foods and Trader Joes and “eat” the extra expense.
BTW, I find that Giant Eagle has some nice organic/natural/ fair trade/ range fed/ cage free products.
Or not, for example, I like to make my own bacon. When I run out I like to buy uncured bacon. Recently while shopping I was pleased to find “naturally cured” bacon at a great price, but upon closer inspection I read that its ingredients indeed included unwanted preservatives.
Ooh! Please be true!
Although I kinda doubt there'd be an ounce of synergy with a place like Bass Pro, if you know what I mean.
posted by joshwoodward on Jan 14, 2008 at 12:12:15 pm #
I wish Trader Joes would make it's over here.
posted by jhostetler on Jan 14, 2008 at 12:26:00 pm #
BTW, I find that Giant Eagle has some nice organic/natural/ fair trade/ range fed/ cage free products.
They do. I shop there often.
posted by jhostetler on Jan 14, 2008 at 12:29:15 pm #
"I shop there often."
I'll bet, lots of Hostetlers in that area.
i can only wish that this is true or better there be a TJ's coming soon.
And to further your stereotyping, Offshore, I also drive a volvo! ;)
posted by jhostetler on Jan 14, 2008 at 05:42:38 pm #
A couple of years ago the Wall Street Journal called Whole Foods, "Whole Paycheck" and "a parking lot for Volvos".
I would never stereotype, but my pickup will be parked at bass pro……Actually, my wife drives a Volvo.
Whole Foods grew by a series of predatory acquisitions so much that the FTC filed an antitrust suit.
The CEO is known to hype the stock under a pseudonym on Yahoo finance.
Author Michael Pollan has contended that the supermarket chain has done well in expanding the organic market, but has done so at the cost of local foods, regional producers, and distributors.
Ronnie Cummins, national director of the United States Organic Consumers Association, said that Whole Foods simply uses the term "natural" as a marketing tool.
That would be AWESOME if they came. Slowly we edge toward the 21st century in Toledo!
The working class has been in the 21st Century in Toledo for a while, Mmn: Fewer jobs, lower pay, higher taxes, and a government that promotes debt over savings.
Prosperous jobs flee Toledo by the thousands, yet Toledoans suddenly cheer when a fucking Starbucks opens. A century cannot be marked by spending; it must be marked by earning.
In spite or Trader Joe’s folksy appearance, it is part of a supermarket chain wholly owned by the Albrecht family of Germany. And, in spite of Whole Food Market’s (oh brother) dubious circumstances, to me, it’s about value for my hard earned dollar.
If there really is any value to eating things that are closer to the earth, then one’s expenditures should yield higher nutritional dividends.
I can only presume to be true the extra measure of assurance claimed by these chains in terms of quality standards, unacceptable food ingredients, local support farmers, fair trade, environmentally friendly etc.
But, since I don’t live in Mayberry, my city council frowns on raising livestock and sustenance farming and since I simply can’t grow, nurture, catch, trap, shoot, spear, cultivate, and prepare the foods to nourish my (abused!) body, maintain fitness, and enjoy my hectic suburban life, I’m in a bit of a pickle (organic, of course).
Charlatan, Charlatan.... tsk, tsk...
"Whole Foods grew by a series of predatory acquisitions so much that the FTC filed an antitrust suit."An antitrust suit was brought about because of the merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats. The feds thought that Whole Foods combining with Wild Oats would mean that the organic marketplace would be dominated by the Whole Foods merger. The antitrust suit did not come out of predatory actions by Whole Foods.
"Author Michael Pollan has contended that the supermarket chain has done well in expanding the organic market, but has done so at the cost of local foods, regional producers, and distributors."
Oh, no. Here comes the "THAT DARN WAL-MART" argument. Local foods, producers and distributors who are advancing the food market by producing organic or old-world style foods have a home at Whole Foods. Just go ask Zingerman's if they have a problem with Whole Foods stocking their bread. I don't think Whole Foods in Ann Arbor even tries to compete against the quality of Zingerman's bread, as last time I was at Whole Foods I only saw Zingerman's bread on the shelves.
"Ronnie Cummins, national director of the United States Organic Consumers Association, said that Whole Foods simply uses the term "natural" as a marketing tool."
Apparently this idiot has never been in a Whole Foods? Go to the store and you see otherwise.
I'm just trying to bring balance to the cheerleading about a somewhat shady commercial enterprise.
There is such thing as predatory mergers. I'm just saying whole foods didn't grow organically or by out dueling the competition. They grew by buying out the old hat in town.
Both Pollan and Cummins have a fair amount of respect amongst more sophisticated consumers.
I think there's decent places around to get decent eats. Local farmers, the farmers market downtown, Monette's...
Or you can always grow your own whole foods in your backyard.
They are not shady at all. I am not an employee of Whole Foods, nor do I expect to be. The Whole Foods and Wild Oats merger has not been a predatory takeover. Both companies believed that they can work better together, as both CEO's have stated in press releases to grocer magazines.
Whole Foods grew out of being the best of the best. Will they remain such? I don't know. Wal-Mart had a "best of the best" labeling, but they are now starting to take on losses in regards to same-store sales. Go to places such as Papa Joe's in Rochester and you will see a locally grown business that can work circles around Whole Foods.That being said, Whole Foods deserves respect because they have grown out of understanding who their customers and employees are. Go to a Whole Foods and ask the employees if they are settled with their jobs. I would believe that such a question would garner guffaws among most of their employees. Whole Foods has grown in much the same way that Ari Weinzweig has grown Zingerman's. Both have latched on to the altruism that if you give people a place to work where they feel comfortable and can be themselves, then you will excel.
I have to state that I AM a former employee of Zingerman's, so my logic and facts may be skewed towards them, but not Whole Foods.
That Wood County!! They're a growin' place!!
posted by billy on Jan 14, 2008 at 08:11:37 am #