Whole Foods swallows up rival Wild Oats

[donheld]

By Jonathan Birchall in New York

Updated: 28 minutes ago
Whole Foods Market has reinforced its position as the leading US natural and organic food supermarket with the $565m acquisition of rival Wild Oats Marketplace.

The deal will add an additional 110 stores to Whole Foods' US network of more than 180 outlets, underlining the rise of a retailer that has come to symbolise the explosion of public interest in the US in natural and organic foods.

It also marks the end of uncertainty over the future of Colorado-based Wild Oats. With sales of $1.2bn, it has taken a less up-market approach to the sector, and has struggled to integrate a series of acquisitions.

John Mackey, Whole Foods co-founder and chief executive, said the two companies had "similar missions and core values", and that together they had helped lead the natural and organic foods movement "to nationwide acceptance".


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17267351/

[hlthe2b]

1. damn...

less choice and we're left with only "Whole Paycheck Market" aka Whole Foods...

[paulk]

63. check out Sunflower Market

http://www.sunflowermarkets.com/sunflower-webapp/index.jsp

There's one down on Colorado Blvd in the same shopping center with Chez Artiste.

[Lorien]

2. I'm not surprised

the Wild Oats stores in our area were crumbling; stripped, shelves, dirty eisles...I don't know what was going on there, maybe a bit of mismanagement?

[susanna]

3. As a natural food lover,

I'm not exactly sure this is a good thing.

Everyone more versed than I, please weigh in.

[Lurking Dem]

28. Right now all I have is Wild Oats.

They are building as huge Whole Foods but it won't be done until fall/winter.

I have to tell you that by and large, Wild Oats sucks. They carry some great, albeit overpriced, products including some wonderful pre-prepped pop-in-the-oven stuff.

That said, the manager of the store is a junk food junkie, knows absolutely nothing about health/natural foods, treats his employees like crap, and carries limited amounts of local produce.

The employees can't wait for Whole Foods to open because they are all bailing.

[susanna]

68. Thanks, LurkingDem.

I myself am big on the local philosophy and the Whole Foods near me does do quite a bit of local food. They are expensive, but if you shop carefully you can still make out okay.

I never had a Wild Oats near me, so I did not know what they were like. I think the one nagging feeling I have is that competition is normally always good. I'm sick and tired of huge corporations swallowing up everyone else in the landscape, so I immediately take an aversion to these kinds of stories. :-(

[LifeDuringWartime]

30. TJ's

just as long as long as Trader Joe's remains safe

[phusion]

43. My favorite store in the whole world...

I love TJ's. :)

[bedazzled]

53. there are no trader joe's in florida. another reason florida sucks

i reallllly miss it...

[nodehopper]

38. Wild Oats is EXTREMELY expensive

I think more so than whole foods, even. At least in my area.

[bedazzled]

54. i've never seen a wild oats store -- but whole foods is jawdroppingly expensive

my mind boggles when i see the prices. it's another world,
and i sure don't belong there...

[Ilsa]

56. Probably okay. There was an excellent report on Whole Foods

on PBS's The NewsHour: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june07/wholefoods_02-20.html

Great company. Very ethical, from what I could see. Employees love it, but stockholders may be unhappy with declining stock prices. They are very upscale, and some cheaper copycats are entering some of WF's markets.

[susanna]

65. It's hard to judge, for me.

On one hand, I love having Whole Foods. On the other, every single store that tries to get back to real foods has my encouragement, and I would hate to see Whole Foods become the WalMart of the bunch. I guess I still think competition keeps things interesting and gives people more options. That said, I have no Wild Oats near me so I will never know what I missed there. I do have TJs, like a poster further upthread talked about, and their selection is quite helpful to me.

Luckily, I also have a few good local organic/specialty grocers who are thriving, so hopefully that continues. I am also lucky enough to have a dairy that, though not certified organic, certainly employs sustainable practices - no hormones, no antibiotics, small and cared-for herd. I was very impressed when I toured the farm. Plus they deliver - can't beat that. So I guess things could be worse! I am really heartened that more people are starting to ask questions about where their food comes from and how it was handled all along the chain.

[Kiouni]

4. I think Whole foods carries more local products

then Wild Oats. I could be wrong never did a study but found a better range of selection and overall better quality to the store. I don't shop 100% through them but I try to supplement my diet by about 30% organic. Plus I love their grain bins. I'm a big bread maker and their setup makes life easy. I'm overall glad because I personally like whole foods over wild oats.

[gorbal]

23. Yes they do

This is more interesting if you see it from where I am standing. Within the last few years, a "Wild Oats" store moved in right beside an independent health food store in Portland me. This was vicious. Facing possible going out of business, the owner of the independant store partnered with Wholefoods, and a giant store was then built. Now I wonder what is going to become of the "Wild Oats" market right next door?

At least in Maine Wholefoods makes a point of selling local produce.

[Dover]

5. Mares eat oats and does eat oats....

and Whole Foods eats Wild Oats.

I remember when this lamb just ate ivy. A small local neighborhood co-op.....sigh.

It seems like only yesterday...or two years ago:


Were you aware of the recent stealth moves by Congress (lobbied by big grocers) to 'streamline' the organic foods issue by allowing in all sorts of nonorganic, synthetic ingredients?
Did you know that Whole Foods was owned by a big time Republican donor?
Were you aware that many organic brands such as Muir Glen are being bought up by the food giants.

Organic has taken off and now the big guys want a piece of the market, but it's too costly for them to actually become organic, so instead they just lower the bar on what is to be considered 'organic'. Consumers need to stay on top of this issue or face having no control over what goes in their bodies. It affects us all very directly:

October 12, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Congress Feels Heat from Consumers Over "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards by Food Processors & Grocery Chains
More Than 250,000 Write Congress to Stop Industry "Rider"

Agricultural Appropriations Bill Could Allow Hundreds of Synthetic Substances & Non-Organic Ingredients in Organic Production without Public Comment and Strict Review
Washington, D.C - As Congress finalizes the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations bill in the House/Senate Conference Committee, more than a quarter million consumers have mobilized in the last three weeks from a broad cross section of the U.S. to stop an industry-sponsored "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards contained in a "rider" to the bill. Members of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) have bombarded Congress with over 150,000 letters and 30,000 phone calls, heading off passage of the "Sneak Attack" rider in the U.S. Senate. Members of other groups including Citizens for Health, Health Freedom, Consumers Union, Public Citizen, the National Cooperative Grocer Association, and the Center for Food Safety have cumulatively generated more than 110,000 additional letters to congress against the industry rider.

The Sneak Attack rider would lower organic standards by allowing Bush administration appointees in the USDA National Organic Program to approve hundreds of synthetic substances and processing aids in organic products. Even worse, these proposed regulatory changes would reduce future public discussion and input and undermine the National Organic Standards Board's (NOSB) traditional lead jurisdiction in monitoring standards and controlling what substances are allowed on the "National List" of approved ingredients. What this means, in blunt terms is that USDA bureaucrats and industry lobbyists, not consumers, would have near total control over what can go into processed organic foods and products.

The backlash is also growing among many retailers, co-ops and some makers of organic foods. Eden Foods, a longtime organic industry brand leader and processor issued a statement on October 3 condemning the "Sneak Attack." Since then 200 businesses have joined OCA's campaign to Save Organic Standards. "Eden Foods strongly objects," said Eden Chairman and President Michael Potter. "As the oldest and a founding member of the organic foods industry that has never employed shortcuts, we believe that the fast, cheap, and easy route is counter productive in organic food production." A copy of the Eden Foods statement along with OCA's petition for businesses may be found online at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/edenfoods100305... .

Newly emerging organic industry giants such as Kraft, Dole, Dean Foods/Horizon, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Aurora, Smucker, and General Mills seek a streamlined "expedited" approach to modifying organic standards and inclusion of synthetic substances in processed organic foods in order to meet the booming public demand for organics, now a $15 billion industry. "The Organic Trade Association's credibility on organic standards has been severely tarnished by their 'Sneak Attack rider' and new cozy relationship with Kraft and other food giants who apparently care more about their bottom line than they do about strict public review and maintaining strict organic standards. These American food giants, with freshly painted organic facades, appear to be looking for an easy way to brand their products as 'organic' when in fact the rider they support would seriously undermine current organic standards," stated Ronnie Cummins, co-founder and National Director of the OCA. "After 35 years of hard work, the U.S. organic community has built up a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture, based upon strict organic standards and organic community control over modification to these standards. For the sake of the earth and the health of all Americans, we must stop this sneak attack by industry and preserve strict organic standards,"
More information may be found at http://www.organicconsumers.org
###

General Mills buys out Cascadian Farms:

http://bschool.washington.edu/ciber/PDF_WORD/Cascadian_Farm_case_Laverty.pdf


1

Cascadian Farm a.k.a General Mills1

September 2004

The General Mills2 executives gathered in the conference room grew visibly uncomfortable as

the discussion on the video screen took a surprising turn.

“I feel betrayed. But I suppose I should have known that this is what big business is like.”

“I don’t think that I am going to buy Cascadian Farm products again.”

“Shouldn’t their packages have to say who makes this stuff?”

Just a few minutes before, the executives had exchanged nods and smiles as they watched the

video of the focus group. The focus group participants had been singing the praises of Cascadian

Farm3 until Aaron, a twenty-something environmental engineer from Seattle, said: “Isn’t

Cascadian Farms owned by General Mills?” The animated conversation temporarily ceased.

When others spoke up, it was clear that this comment had affected the group.

“Yes, it’s true. Cascadian Farm wants you to believe that it’s a small, local company, but it’s

actually owned by General Mills.”

“Wow. This makes me a lot less interested in Cascadian Farms. I don’t think I’m going to buy

their stuff any more.”

“I like supporting small, local companies, not agribusiness.”

***

It was early January 2004. The team of executives gathered at the Minneapolis headquarters of

General Mills Inc. for a daylong series of meetings to discuss several of their smaller food

brands. In the present session, they were to view and analyze the video of a focus group in

Seattle that had discussed Cascadian Farm products in early November 2003.

General Mills had purchased the Cascadian Farm brand in 1999 as part of its acquisition of Small

Planet Foods4, headquartered in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Cascadian Farm was a well-

1 This case was prepared by Associate Professor Kevin J. Laverty, Business Administration Program, University of

Washington, Bothell. Funds were provided by The Global Business Center (Home of UW CIBER) at the University

of Washington under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

2 http://www.generalmills.com/

3 http://www.cfarm.com/cfarm/default.asp

4 http://www.cfarm.com/

2

recognized brand in the natural foods industry, producing organic5 products in several food

categories: frozen fruits and vegetables, prepared dinners, and jams and jellies.

Cont'd (link above)

[KoKo]

24. Muir Glen is going to be bought out? Only organic soups that

I buy...because only ones that taste good to me. Do you know who is buying them? I've tried Health Valley and Amy's and they all taste "off" or smell odd.

[Dover]

26. No, not sure. That piece about Muir Glen I posted is from back in 2004

so it's already happened. I'll bet a google will bring up the answer to your question.

[Dover]

27. delete/dupe

[jpak]

36. Ever try Amy's Organics or Walnut Grove soups???

Amy's Spicy Organic Chili is better than anything (carne, organic or otherwise) on the market and Walnut Grove's organic pea soup is sooooo good.

[peacetalksforall]

62. I've bought a lot of bad food at Whole Foods - even raw carrots.

And now I won't buy Cascadian or Muir Glen. Eight years ago in another location I always bought at Wild Oats and loved it.

I'm lucky to have some co-ops that share on the purchasing to save costs and cross-offer some member specials.

[Ignacio Upton]

6. "Organic" food is hardly organic

Read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. He points out how organic food, beyond things like anti-biotics, is only slightly better than food from agribusinesses. Unfortunately, I still consume a lot of the "normal" stuff because it's cheaper, although I do buy organic when an individual product looks good enough.

[JCMach1]

7. Not to mention pricing-- less competition will hardly help matters

Guess it is back to grow it yourself. That was what my rural family did growing-up.

[Dover]

9. Soooooo....you're saying that organic is really not that much different

than the non-organic, but you find eating the non-organic variety unfortunate. BUT you buy organic when it looks good.



The Organic label and what is permitted by law to be called organic is always under pressure to be more inclusive by those 'normal' food growers/sellers who want in on that market. This includes Whole Foods. I posted an article a year or so ago about their participation in a 'rewriting' of the organic labeling laws and still don't understand their reasoning. What that has meant to me, as a Whole Foods shopper, is that I cannot any longer relax in the assumption that their 'organic' food actually is. It was a real luxury not to have to think about what the organic label might be hiding
rather than revealing.
To me there is a BIG difference between buying food that has been exposed to pesticides and other chemicals and processing than one that has not. God knows we have enough toxins in our environment to contend with without adding anymore. Organic farmers are usually small and local which is another good reason to support it...and go to your local farmer's market! I know some fruits especially are difficult to grow without some chemical use, but we should STILL know what's been added to or done to our food so we can make whatever choices we deem best for ourselves and our families. Some people find a little chemical residue acceptable, others do not.

[JCMach1]

15. The organic label is a tangled web to say the least

What if the product is grown organically, but the manure used to fertilize the field is full of bovine hormones?

What about residual pesticides in the environment and in fields? They don't just disappear.

No reason not to eat organic there, but as always 'buyer beware'

[NashVegas]

18. It Really Depends

If the only organics you can find are at your traditional big box grocer, you probably won't notice much difference.

OTOH, if you go to a neighborhood / regional where the managers are part of the organic culture, chances are they are buying from smaller suppliers who are well known to them. You'll find many things in the produce section that have flavor that blows away anything you'd find in Kroger or Price Chopper.

[donheld]

21. Is liver the only truly organic food?

:eyes: I know bad joke.

[gorbal]

25. BUY LOCAL

I can't express enough how important it is to buy local produce when it is in season. Find out where your local farmers market or farmstand is and go. (Farmers Markets are fun too)

[customerserviceguy]

40. "Organic"

is just a food fad phase, much like the Atkins diet was a couple of years ago. Feel free to spend 2-3 times as much on overpriced groceries, the fact that the "organic" people have abandoned "normal" food makes it cheaper for me.

[Cha]

42. Not eating poisons is not a "food fad".

Organic has come a long way(mainstream) since I was buying it in the early '80's.

I know it's more expensive and I'm talkin' produce here but when you think about avoiding the bad health, Dr, and hospital bills down the road..it's Dirt Cheap.

[SpiralHawk]

72. Baloney. You can eat all the chemical-soaked, genetically mutant crap you want

But I have farmed, and worked with farmers, and I prefer Clean Food -- not the processed mutant cloned "food product" that republicon corporations are shoving down the throat of a -- not surprisngly -- chronically ill American populace.

[freethought]

8. Wild Oats tried to expand too fast

In a business strategy class I am taking right now, Whole Foods is the subject of much of the literature and text we have to read. Along with that comes the the activities of Wild Oats.
Wild Oats adopted a strategy to outrun Whole Foods. It was a strategy they were ill prepared for. A slew of unwise decisions were made and other things got out of control. They also ran up a great deal of debt doing it.

I am seeing this drama unfold here in Portland, ME. There has been a Wild Oats up here that I visit on a regular basis. Just over a week ago, a Whole Foods opened up here in Portland. You could stand in the entrance of Wild Oats and see the new Whole Foods about 400-500 yards away. Whole Foods, Portland opened up on February 14 and, it is said, done $4 million in sales within the first 4 to 5 days of business. I have been in the new Whole Foods and the place is impressive. You are all right about one thing, Whole Foods = whole paycheck. The place is pricey but they do have some nice stuff, a great prepared food section and a superior wine section. The place was busy and those shopping there did not have the prices foremost on there minds.

This is bad for another small, independent organic grocer that is situated, quite literally, between
Whole Foods and Wild Oats. I have been in there a couple of times. I don't see how this place is going to survive.

[NashVegas]

19. Wild Oats Pissed Off Many Organic Consumers in My Town

They moved into the market by buying out the only established organic grocer in town. It had a 20 year history and was in an economically, racially mixed area. You'd pull into the parking lot and it would be full of old Hondas, old Saabs, old Toyotas and old Volvos. You get the picture.

Within one year, they expanded - 2 new stores in 2 super upscale areas - and then shut down the original store. There's still barely enough room in the parking lot, only now it's filled with Rovers, Land Cruisers, Explorers, and Hummers(!).

I still go there when I need to, but I'm not happy about it.

[Gormy Cuss]

55. If you're referring to Whole Grocer, it's a goner.

Whole Grocer was purchased by Whole Foods last year. The last time I visited, in October, Whole Grocer already had been sold and was beginning to stock some Whole Foods brands.

[freethought]

66. Yes, that's the place.

I didn't know that Whole Foods had bought it out already. Not surprising.

[doubleplusgood]

61. savage capitlaism in Portland, OR

Several years ago Nature's had a nice, large store with relatively good parking in pricey Lake Oswego, on the east side of I-5. A couple of years ago, the developer of the nearby, high-end Bridgeport Plaza mall coerced them into moving to his development (or else he'd get another organic/health food market in). Having abandoned their original site for the parking-challenged Bridgeport Plaza, Wild Oats now finds a humongous Whole Foods store right across the street, with somewhat better parking.

[freethought]

67. I prefer to call it "predatory capitalism".

If some companies are not hunting down, killing, and devouring competition they stalking and plotting ways to separate consumers from their money.

The invisible hand has become an invisible set of claws and teeth.

[Eurobabe]

10. Interesting, I had a Wild Oats near Cincy and while it was

pretty good, they didn't have the selection or shelf space that Whole Foods did back East. But of course they had the prices! And I must admit their staff was very courteous, except for the Asst. Mgr. who always had a mug on her. :shrug:

BTW, it was never very busy, those suburban idiots in Mason (the last of the 33% for *) would rather poison their brains with Frankenfoods from Krogers. :eyes:

edit, can't write or spell this morning :wtf:??

[Bluestar]

11. There go the reasonable prices

I pay for fruits and vegetables at Henry's (a division of Wild Oats). Now everything will cost an arm and a leg. So much for progress.

[Shallah Kali]

12. This stinks! whole foods bought out my local indy store and it isn't as good

I thought at least we still have wild oats. I have celiac disease so I need a store that labels things properly so I don't get sick. I don't dare use bulk foods because of contamination but I know people who will be disappointed to loose wild oats because of a wider selection in the bulk bins including herbs and spices than the new whole foods.

[mainegreen]

41. Hm. Are you a Mainer?

Because that's what happened here. I can't imagine our local Wild Oats will stay open, being all of ten feet from the whole foods.

[Shallah Kali]

45. Yes. It sucked when they bought Whole Grocer and now this.

A friend of mine considers whole foods on par with walmart. i hope she isn't right.......

[Dover]

13. Whole Foods is selling out. This happened back in October 2005 >>>

Can't recall what happened with this issue. Does anyone remember?


_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Were you aware of the recent stealth moves by Congress (lobbied by big grocers) to 'streamline' the organic foods issue by allowing in all sorts of nonorganic, synthetic ingredients?

Were you aware that many organic brands such as Muir Glen are being bought up by the food giants.

Organic has taken off and now the big guys want a piece of the market, but it's too costly for them to actually become organic, so instead they just lower the bar on what is to be considered 'organic'. Consumers need to stay on top of this issue or face having no control over what goes in their bodies. It affects us all very directly:

October 12, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Congress Feels Heat from Consumers Over "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards by Food Processors & Grocery Chains
More Than 250,000 Write Congress to Stop Industry "Rider"

Agricultural Appropriations Bill Could Allow Hundreds of Synthetic Substances & Non-Organic Ingredients in Organic Production without Public Comment and Strict Review
Washington, D.C - As Congress finalizes the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations bill in the House/Senate Conference Committee, more than a quarter million consumers have mobilized in the last three weeks from a broad cross section of the U.S. to stop an industry-sponsored "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards contained in a "rider" to the bill. Members of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) have bombarded Congress with over 150,000 letters and 30,000 phone calls, heading off passage of the "Sneak Attack" rider in the U.S. Senate. Members of other groups including Citizens for Health, Health Freedom, Consumers Union, Public Citizen, the National Cooperative Grocer Association, and the Center for Food Safety have cumulatively generated more than 110,000 additional letters to congress against the industry rider.

The Sneak Attack rider would lower organic standards by allowing Bush administration appointees in the USDA National Organic Program to approve hundreds of synthetic substances and processing aids in organic products. Even worse, these proposed regulatory changes would reduce future public discussion and input and undermine the National Organic Standards Board's (NOSB) traditional lead jurisdiction in monitoring standards and controlling what substances are allowed on the "National List" of approved ingredients. What this means, in blunt terms is that USDA bureaucrats and industry lobbyists, not consumers, would have near total control over what can go into processed organic foods and products.

The backlash is also growing among many retailers, co-ops and some makers of organic foods. Eden Foods, a longtime organic industry brand leader and processor issued a statement on October 3 condemning the "Sneak Attack." Since then 200 businesses have joined OCA's campaign to Save Organic Standards. "Eden Foods strongly objects," said Eden Chairman and President Michael Potter. "As the oldest and a founding member of the organic foods industry that has never employed shortcuts, we believe that the fast, cheap, and easy route is counter productive in organic food production." A copy of the Eden Foods statement along with OCA's petition for businesses may be found online at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/edenfoods100305... .

Newly emerging organic industry giants such as Kraft, Dole, Dean Foods/Horizon, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Aurora, Smucker, and General Mills seek a streamlined "expedited" approach to modifying organic standards and inclusion of synthetic substances in processed organic foods in order to meet the booming public demand for organics, now a $15 billion industry. "The Organic Trade Association's credibility on organic standards has been severely tarnished by their 'Sneak Attack rider' and new cozy relationship with Kraft and other food giants who apparently care more about their bottom line than they do about strict public review and maintaining strict organic standards. These American food giants, with freshly painted organic facades, appear to be looking for an easy way to brand their products as 'organic' when in fact the rider they support would seriously undermine current organic standards," stated Ronnie Cummins, co-founder and National Director of the OCA. "After 35 years of hard work, the U.S. organic community has built up a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture, based upon strict organic standards and organic community control over modification to these standards. For the sake of the earth and the health of all Americans, we must stop this sneak attack by industry and preserve strict organic standards,"
More information may be found at http://www.organicconsumers.org
###

General Mills buys out Cascadian Farms:

http://bschool.washington.edu/ciber/PDF_WORD/Cascadian_Farm_case_Laverty.pdf


1

Cascadian Farm a.k.a General Mills1

September 2004

The General Mills2 executives gathered in the conference room grew visibly uncomfortable as

the discussion on the video screen took a surprising turn.

“I feel betrayed. But I suppose I should have known that this is what big business is like.”

“I don’t think that I am going to buy Cascadian Farm products again.”

“Shouldn’t their packages have to say who makes this stuff?”

Just a few minutes before, the executives had exchanged nods and smiles as they watched the

video of the focus group. The focus group participants had been singing the praises of Cascadian

Farm3 until Aaron, a twenty-something environmental engineer from Seattle, said: “Isn’t

Cascadian Farms owned by General Mills?” The animated conversation temporarily ceased.

When others spoke up, it was clear that this comment had affected the group.

“Yes, it’s true. Cascadian Farm wants you to believe that it’s a small, local company, but it’s

actually owned by General Mills.”

“Wow. This makes me a lot less interested in Cascadian Farms. I don’t think I’m going to buy

their stuff any more.”

“I like supporting small, local companies, not agribusiness.”

***

It was early January 2004. The team of executives gathered at the Minneapolis headquarters of

General Mills Inc. for a daylong series of meetings to discuss several of their smaller food

brands. In the present session, they were to view and analyze the video of a focus group in

Seattle that had discussed Cascadian Farm products in early November 2003.

General Mills had purchased the Cascadian Farm brand in 1999 as part of its acquisition of Small

Planet Foods4, headquartered in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Cascadian Farm was a well-

1 This case was prepared by Associate Professor Kevin J. Laverty, Business Administration Program, University of

Washington, Bothell. Funds were provided by The Global Business Center (Home of UW CIBER) at the University

of Washington under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

2 http://www.generalmills.com/

3 http://www.cfarm.com/cfarm/default.asp

4 http://www.cfarm.com/

2

recognized brand in the natural foods industry, producing organic5 products in several food

categories: frozen fruits and vegetables, prepared dinners, and jams and jellies.

Cont'd (link above)

[shifting_sands]

14. Alfalfa

Before it was bought by "Wild Oats" it was Alfalfa's and it was better than Whole Foods and Wild Oats combined. When Wild Oats bought Alfalfa's they continued to model their stores after the extremely successful organic model of Alfalfa's, unfortunately the integrity was not there. Alfalfa was the first successful organic grocery in this country and then came Whole Foods and then came Wild Oats and they did not know how to compete. Hoss (the man who started Alfalfa's) was ready to retire and wanted out and he sold his stores to Wild Oats at a very good price, before they bought Alfalfa's they were a little hole in the wall on Colfax. As a bit of Denver history, before it was Wild Oats it was the Rainbow Grocery and owned by Rev. Sun Yung Moon, the same guy who owns the Bush family today.

Actually all these stores were modeled on the successful local Vitamin Cottage and they are still successful in their limited market and they are happy with that.

[all.of.me]

35. ah.... alfalfa's.....

i was in boulder in the mid 80s, and alfalfa's was it. there was no wild oats, but they came around in a while, but after i'd left. i heard the negative stories of how things changed. it was unfortunate.

[truthisfreedom]

16. Sad. The flavors at Whole foods often suck.

I'm picky, though.

[NashVegas]

17. There's a Whole Foods Going in 200 Yards from Wild Oats in Nashville

I wonder what's going to happen there.

[Lurking Dem]

29. I'm guessing they'll sell the property.

Is it okay if I pray for a Dean and Deluca?

[NashVegas]

31. Be My Guest

:)

[Lurking Dem]

32. A little butter...

some parsley, onion, garlic, Marsala, and sliced truffle.......



Yum.

[NashVegas]

33. Truffles? In Nashvile? Impossible!

..

Wanna go raid Old Hickory's oaks?

[Lurking Dem]

34. LOL!

The tornado missed some? Gotta pig?

I really am amazed there isn't a D&D here given the obscene amounts of money in this town (some of which is mine).

Of course, I can't believe there isn't a Crate and Barrel nor a Container Store in this town. Or prime beef.

"Where do people in Nashville shop?"

"Atlanta."

[NashVegas]

37. There's Choice, At Least

Publix gets that. For prime, put in a request at Todd's Butcher Shop (Charlotte Pike).

[Lurking Dem]

39. I grew up in Texas.

Having to put in a request for prime beef is just bizarre.

I'll check out Todd's though. Thanks!

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. Whole Paycheck

...

[LibertyLover]

22. New Whole Foods being built near me

We have a smallish Whole Foods in Annapolis, but a new larger one is being built and should open late this year or early next. We do a fair amount of shopping there because their vegetables and meat are the best available locally, except when the Farmers' Market is open. The local supermarket chain, Giant, which had been excellent, was bought several years ago by a Dutch conglomerate and has declined in service and quality ever since. That being said, we don't like Whole Foods for everything - their bakery products look lovely but their taste, at least as far as my family goes, isn't great. Their deli stuff is ok, but not so wonderful that I'll pay the prices they are asking. Some of the prepared food (ask me about their salsa fresca and red skin mashed potatoes!) is good, but again, the prices are astronomical for what you get. Oh well, back to hoping a Wegman's opens up near us soon.

[phusion]

44. As long as they don't get rid of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap

I don't really care. :)

[LeftyMom]

46. Whole Foods is the WalMart of organic food. Only overpriced.

They're union busting, they've advocated for reduced organic standards, they don't hold themselves to their own underwhelming animal welfare standards, they fill their stores up with overpriced prepared and convenience food rather than staples (and what they do have they overcharge for) and- and this is the one that kills me, considering what it costs to shop there- their customer service blows.

Our local food co-op has much better stuff in a smaller space, better prices and a union workforce. I'll keep spending my money there instead.

[Contrite]

47. Not to mention the aisles and aisles of overpriced natural hygiene products

I think there is more of that than food. And their deli pricing is outrageous.

[Shallah Kali]

48. Article | Welcome to 'Whole-Mart': Rotten Apples in the Social Responsibility Industry

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0502-34.htm

It's a bleak commentary on the current social climate when a management team that spews some of the most backward anti-union rhetoric this side of the last 150 years is still considered socially responsible by liberal investors and others spellbound by any company that combines talk of all things sustainable with record profits. In 1998, when the United Farm Workers (UFW), an early campaigner against the dangers of pesticides in food production, asked grocery retailers to endorse a pledge to support humane work conditions for California's strawberry workers, Whole Foods notoriously refused, making clear it was a matter of principle that the company would not cooperate with the UFW or any union.

Such retrograde thinking under the environmental banner is a disgrace. It might be a simple step toward progress if those who support the organic foods movement or the concept of socially responsible business returned to values some of their grandparents once held. These are the values that say crossing a union picket line or scabbing on social justice for the sake of a dollar is a shameful act. Instead of being a side issue, union-busting should be a cut-in-stone marker of which side of the social responsibility equation a company has chosen.

[Rainscents]

50. I shop at Co-op only!

They do have better price and people are so friendly. One I go, it's very old fashion, girls are dress in 60's style and they still stamp price on the products old fashion way. I love going there and when I'm there, I give girls up to date on politics! LOL

[JI7]

49. they seem kind of expensive to me

especially compared to trader joes .

[freethought]

69. They are. Whole Foods alternative name is "Whole Paycheck"

As you may have read from several of the posts on this thread. On average they will be more expensive than conventional supermarket chains.

Thing is, Whole Foods knows their market. And people are willing to pay higher prices for the organic products and specialty foods. My achilles heel with whole foods is the bread section.
Really good fresh, artisan breads like good French baguettes and crusty Italian breads. Wonderful stuff!!
The Whole Foods here in Portland, ME actually has a sit down restaurant area. Select food from the counter or from one a bunch of hot bars and take it to a table. Talk about a convenient place to take a date! "Hey lover, lets go for some dinner. We'll eat at Whole Foods by candle light."

They also have alot of other stuff their demographic looks for. A fine wine section. Meats and seafood. The stores are also visually striking. They know how to impress.

[Lurking Dem]

70. I know the Austin store has a fabulous

wine selection. Alas, here in Nashville that will not be possible.

Do they do cooking classes like Wild Oats? Pay a nominal fee, learn to cook X or Y or Z meal and then you get to eat it? They'll do them in a series with a specific chef - macrobiotic, superfoods, etc.

[freethought]

71. I haven't seen anything like cooking classes but

the place has not even been open a month. They have had wine and cheese tasting sessions. In the wine section there is a bar of sorts where the tasting is done.

They also have the usual sample tables as well.

[depakid]

51. Wild Oats "ate" our independent "Natures"

and closed it right down.

In addition to which, Wild Oats pretty much sucked. Yet it is disturbing that more Texans are on the loose, buying up this and that. Nothing good will come out of that. It never does.

[InkAddict]

52. Go to Whole Foods Market on Demo Day

it's an unlimited smorgasboard tasting event, many times with themes. In fact, sometimes, for some pocket change, you can even sample beer and wine to go with your "meal."!

Then pick up just one of your favorite organic products or shop for one special meal and GO HOME!

Seriously, my stomach knows when this body has eaten higher quality, "organic" or not foods. Don't need the large portion or do the constant nibbling to feel full and satisfied. Of course, that could be my psychological reaction in response to the cost of buying and preparing such a meal.

I just don't like to see the smaller specialty groceries so perishable. It just makes my lay-off and closing radar alarms go off.

[Bridget Burke]

57. I'm not fully Organic.....

But Central Market is my favorite "fancy health food" store.
www.centralmarket.com/cm/index.jsp

This Texas chain is part of the HEB grocery chain, founded by Herbert E Butts. Central Market has a huge selection of organic, non-organic & fancy food. The produce section is amazing & the bakery convinced many that "no carbs" was a silly idea. It's a bit cheaper than Whole Foods & doesn't have quite the "healthier than thou" atmosphere. Of course, you can go broke if you run wild in the prepared food section.

We've also got a couple of farmers' markets here--one in my neighborhood every Saturday.

[tammywammy]

64. I love Central Market

:loveya:

I live close to a Whole Foods, but I'll drive 30 minutes to get to Central Market. Whole Food is crazy expensive. Central Market doesn't seem as "snotty" as Whole Foods (or at least the people that shop there don't).

[Gormy Cuss]

58. That pretty much spells 'monopoly' for that niche.

What a shame. It's the wrong direction. There was little direct competition to the two big players because each had a habit of swallowing up the local indy or chain. Now there is essentially none in many markets. Co-ops can be good, but there are too few. Other places like Trader Joe's only compete for a small segment of the business.

Many of the customers at my local Whole Foods are not price sensitive and not well-versed in the dilution of organic standards and what that means. They're shopping there because the food is presented in a more attractive way and the staff are attentive. To them, it beats shopping at the Safeway, where there is a stale smell, too little lighting and too few staff to accommodate any customer request other than finding where the food category is shelved.

[KansDem]

59. Check out the Wild Oats website:

Wild Oats Q&A

Whole Foods and Wild Oats Merger – Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Wild Oats and Whole Foods merging?
Wild Oats Markets and Whole Foods Market have announced plans to merge, creating a stronger combined company that will allow us to serve our customers better. This merger allows us to combine the best of both companies to bring you an enhanced shopping experience and even more innovation in product development.

Why are the companies doing this and why now?
By combining the strengths of two leaders in natural and organic food retailing, we see an opportunity to deliver a wider selection of the highest quality products and a richer, more authentic shopping experience. We will continue to offer the friendly, knowledgeable service you’ve come to expect from people you know.

This is the right time to bring these two best-in-class retailers together to offer customers a strong alternative to the large, national retailers who are now making inroads in natural and organic foods.

Will my Wild Oats or Capers store continue to be a Wild Oats or Capers even after the merger?
Whole Foods plans to continue to operate our Wild Oats and Capers Community Market stores and, in fact, will make significant capital investments to remodel acquired stores before re-branding them as Whole Foods Market stores. Before making any decisions, Whole Foods will review each store individually to see where it fits in the overall plan.

In some areas, remodeling and re-branding or relocating stores will happen quickly; in others, the change will happen over time, and is expected to take up to two years.

Will you be closing any stores?
We don’t have all the answers now, but we will share them as soon as we do have them. Because many Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores are near each other, it may make sense for us to close some of those stores. Whole Foods will review each store individually to see where it fits in the overall plan. We are committed to making sure there are many convenient locations for our shoppers across the country

What will happen to the people who work in your stores?
Every associate who works in a Wild Oats or Capers store is guaranteed a job offer in the newly merged company, so our great, knowledgeable staff will still be here to serve you, with a wider selection of the highest quality natural and organic foods and holistic health products.

Will your prices change?
Our goal is to continue to offer the best value in town for natural and organic foods and holistic health products, everywhere we do business. We expect to remain competitive on pricing with other retailers offering similar products.

Will your product selection change?
Yes, we expect our product line to be enhanced with the addition of a wider selection of high-quality products and the type of culinary innovation for which Whole Foods is known. By combining two leaders in the industry, we will be able to offer a broader selection of the highest-quality natural, organic and specialty foods and holistic health products.

I liked things the way they were. Why can’t it stay the same?
We believe things will only get better for our customers. We encourage you to stick with us and see the positive changes we expect to make.

I always thought that competition was good and made everyone better. How do you expect to improve your offering and experience when you don’t have a direct competitor?
Consumers interested in natural and organic products have never had more options than they do today, since so many conventional retailers have gotten into the business. Wild Oats and Whole Foods are joining forces as leaders and pioneers in the natural and organic foods movement, so that we can serve our customers better and focus on continued product innovation and enhancements in our shopping experience.

Wild Oats has been a big supporter of our community. Will that support continue after the merger?
Just like Wild Oats, Whole Foods has earned a reputation as a good corporate citizen and a company that believes in giving back to the community, everywhere it does business. Our combined company will continue to be a good citizen and support causes customers care about. In fact, by combining our resources in this area, we expect to provide more support to our communities and to the causes important to our customers.

I own some Wild Oats stock. What does this mean to me?
We believe this is a great deal for Wild Oats shareholders, because the offer price of $18.50 per share represents a 23 percent price premium over the one-month average. Therefore, all Wild Oats shareholders will receive $18.50 for every share owned, once the transaction is complete.

Who will run the company?
John Mackey, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Whole Foods Market, will run the combined company.

[NoSheep]

60. We refer to our Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck"