Whole Foods Looks for a Fresh Image in Lean Times

[flashl]

NY 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.

Who knew, Whole Foods' gold plated image meant, it's expensive to eat healthy! :sarcasm:

[Eurobabe]

1. I lived near a Wild Oats (taken over by Whole Foods)

and I'll be damned it cost me $50 to cross the threshhold into the freaking store!!

[callous taoboy]

2. I still shop Whole Paycheck

I still shop there, but only for staples such as whole wheat tortillas (locally made and scrumptious and relatively inexpensive), beans, frozen fish etc. They also serve up a really cheap but delicious taco in the downtown Austin store.

Tidbit- My older bro used to take me to the original Whole Foods in Austin back in the early 70's. It was called "Saferway" and it was in an old victorian house. John Mackey ran the whole store.

[108blessings]

3. If you know how to cook, eat vegetarian, and have access to a produce market

you can save money. I don't buy much produce at WF, but staples like organic carrots (.99/lb.), organic Swiss Chard ($2.49 for a big bunch), along with any sale items. Last week I was able to get organic turnips for .99/lb., which is comparable to a produce market for conventional version.

The 365 WF house brand is very good quality. Their organic wholewheat pasta (and refined version, too) is cheaper than the regular stores' conventional version. The organic corn tortillas (important because of GMO issues) are handmade and cheaper than regular ones.

[bobbolink]

4. Yup, too freaking bad we homeless people are such idiots.

:eyes:

Oh wait... we just *act* helpless....

Damn... this needed to be posted in the POVERTY forum??????????

Such awareness....:crazy:

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shrike]

5. Or, grow your own

I know, many people don't have what I have: a big yard.

But if you spend some time googling, you'll find out a lot of information about vegetables that can be grown in pots. Certain varieties: you start with the seeds, don't spend much money. There are cukes, zucchini, squash, even sugar pumpkin (which can be made into the most delicious breads and biscuits.) Carrots, I'm told, too, can be grown in a container. Potatoes, as well.

[bobbolink]

6. what a freakin' shame we aren't all muddleclass, eh?

[Ocracoker16]

7. yeah, 1 in 8 Americans face hunger

We should all try to remember that there are so many out there who can't afford food even at the cheapest stores. What if we put aside what we save from not shopping exclusively at Whole Foods or similar stores, buying cheaper brands, and trying to grow some veggies and at the end of the month donated that small sum to a foodbank. That would add up over time.

Consider giving to Feeding America. Every $1 you give fills 16 bowls with food.
http://www.feedingamerica.org/bowl


DU does have a group for those interested in frugal living. I think it is also for energy efficient living as well. Go share your ideas with the best of the penny pinchers. They have some excellent links.

[shrike]

8. You don't have to be middle-class to grow a tomato plant in a pot

Although the best situation would be a community garden. Gary, Indiana, which has enormous problems as most people know, is setting up community garden plots next year. People are waiting in line to reserve a spot. Chicago's had them for years. Not every city is as forward-thinking, though.

I do realize that for a person REALLY struggling, homeless or borderline homeless, growing vegetables ia hardly an option.

[bobbolink]

9. Yes, I'm homeless.

You know, the attitude here that anyone can do what you can do needs to be examined.

You might also want to consider that MANY people have to work two jobs just to survive. Gardening certainly isn't as important as the sleep they would give up to engage in it.

Please think beyond your own circumstances.

[shrike]

10. I wasn't trying to be snarky

However, since the forum addresses poverty issues in general, I thought vegetable-growing was worth bringing up here.

Gary, Indiana, suffered a tornado last year, and my husband went in to help. (It's an ill-kept secret, as you well know, that the poor areas of town, the poorer cities, are the last ro receive services, the last to receive help. Many times, the initial efforts are always from volunteers.) Anyway, I went with him, and I was struck by the number of homeowners who did their damndest to grow corn, yes, CORN, in very small spaces; in right-of-ways, in vacant lots. These were all people who were obviously struggling to make a buck each week, and most had postage-stamp-size yards. I was amazed by their ingenuity.

I try very hard to think outside my own circumstances. Though I regret your situation (and hope it changes very soon) there may be other folks on this forum who could grow a pot or two, in a sunny window or urban balcony.

If I had enough time and money, I'd want to get involved in the urban gardening movement. Promote, even push, for urban gardening in even the poorest areas. There was someone a while back who wanted to acquire an abandoned building and start community hydroponics in there. Which would be amazing; fresh vegetables all year-round. But he and his cohorts would need money to get it started; grant money, whatever.

[grace0418]

13. "Please think beyond your own circumstances." You should take your own advice.

I'm sorry that you are where you're at but there are other people are under the poverty line but still living somewhere, and maybe can help each other out with some tips. If that doesn't apply to you, read a different post. You don't have to go around disparaging other people just because this doesn't apply to you.

[bobbolink]

14. If you don't like hearing poor people say it like it is, maybe you shouldn't be posting

in the poverty forum.

[thejokerwasme]

16. Save your breath...Some people are just not ready yet

[grace0418]

12. Their 365 brand is quite economical and tasty. If you know what to get there, you

can do quite well. And every Wednesday (at least in the Chicago area), their fresh one-topping brick oven pizzas are $8.99. Each additional topping is a buck. They are DELICIOUS and my husband and I get two meals out of them. So they can feed four, especially if you make a salad and veggies.

[dcsmart]

15. would whole food include the homeless

they would be the cheapest forms of food. plenty of them and no one would miss them. probably mix them with other fillers and serve them as hotdogs...nice....