“Whole Foods” needs a diet, says CEO, and we need to watch where we shop!
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
I have to say, I wasn’t shocked by the WSJ blog post “Whole Foods CEO: ‘We Sell a Bunch of Junk’. All you have to do is walk through the aisles of any Whole Foods to know this is true. Long gone are the health foods, although the fresh fruits, veggies and meats are still top notch.
I have to agree with the WSJ that Whole Foods has become more of a “food boutique” than a “health food store” and Whole Foods own CEO, John Mackey, agrees. He noted to WSJ that “We sell all kinds of candy. We sell a bunch of junk.”
Makey noted to the WSJ that sales of items such as “grains, seeds and nuts” are 1% of their sales down from 15-20% of their sales, and he hopes to come up with a plan to educate customers and help them become more healthy.
Our area has a couple Whole Foods stores as well as stores like Stop and Shop and Roche Brothers. Your area may have different chains but I’m sure they are equally diverse and likely with price clubs which people love. I know I love those discounts!
I’ve long since found that Whole Foods didn’t work for my family and here’s why:
1. It’s really, really pricey. This is a gigantic issue with a family of 4 and growing kids.
2. I can’t find all the food I know my kids will eat.
3. I don’t find the meats and produce any more fresh than the other competing major grocery stores which carry more bulk items and discounts.
4. They seem to have a huge amount of prepared foods, baked goods, cheeses but no stock items that get you through a week.
5. The “healthy” and “natural” items Whole Foods touts are actually at Stop and Shop and Roche Brothers near me for far less money…and in bulk!
6. Whole Foods doesn’t offer a “price club” brand or a discount card as Stop and Shop has. The savings to a family from those simple no-name brand options is staggering and most of us find no difference in taste. Given how much growing kids eat, generic works just fine.
To be frank, why shop at stores like Whole Foods except for the occasional novelty item when other stores provide everything in one place and at a much more family family price point. With kids someday heading off to college and our country in a recession, every dollar counts for most of us. Plus, we’re all really busy. I hate grocery shopping and really just want to go to one store, get what I need and go on my way. If I shop at Whole Foods, I know I’ll need to stop at a second store to fill in the gaps of items on my shopping list I know they don’t carry…who has that time??
Life gets complicated enough. Shop where it’s convenient and affordable and don’t get lost in the hype…because that’s really what it is.
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