True story, I spend anywhere from $2-4k per month at Whole Foods and other various grocery outlets. I am what one might call a ‘foodie’ and prefer to ingest food that isn’t tainted by the Monsanto corporation. I know, grass fed and organic foods are a scam. But maybe it isn’t. Maybe you’re just a stupid little shit who enjoys being poisoned by canned foods.
At any rate, I eagerly, and with great energy, despise what Whole Foods has become. Instead of the hipster disruptor it used to be. It now has the feel of a large, oppressive, purveyor of fucked up vegetables. Its employees HATE the place. I make an effort to talk to almost everyone there, just to get the feel for the place. Often times, a stranger might confuse me to be a sociopath, when in fact I’m just doing research.
I live in an area that is chockful of farms and locally sourced food. When the apocalypse comes and all of you are starving to death because the Shop Right is out of stuff, I’ll be fine dining on locally sourced steaks. The quality of the food that I can acquire locally far exceeds the stuff that Whole Foods marks up as premium provisions.
Shopping at Whole Foods used to be an exciting adventure. Now I fucking loathe it.
Success has defeated them, to borrow a phrase. The barbarians at Kroger are heaving at their door, waiting to connect a death blow.
Reports Q3 (Jun) earnings of $0.37 per share, in-line with the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.37; revenues rose 2.0% year/year to $3.7 bln vs the $3.72 bln Capital IQ Consensus. Comps -2.6%, just below estimates.
Co issues downside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $0.23-0.24 vs. $0.25 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q4 revs of +2% to ~$3.51 bln vs. $3.56 bln Capital IQ Consensus
Q4 to date comps -2.4%: While the co is hopeful that comps will improve over the remainder of the quarter as comparisons get easier and sales-building initiatives gain traction, the Company expects some ongoing offsetting impact from its value strategy and disinflation.
Pricing power is waning. Competition is growing. I’m afraid this company is doomed.
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Good point on the local sourced foods.
The corps however are trying to squeeze the small guy out with scares of improper food handling etc. Meanwhile the big boys are the one with e-coli and listeria outbreaks .. laughable.
Grow your own now that you’re retired Fly! (no 420)
I made the switch a few years ago to Trader Joe’s. Same high quality of food for a much more reasonable price. The clientele seems heavily weighted towards attractive women as a bonus. Just IMO.
Do you garden? What seeds do you sew?
These guys have a great seed program: http://www.seedsavers.org
But it is late in the season,sot they don’t have corn seed for sale for instance.
Actually sold farm fresh goods to Whole Foods back in the day. They were hard asses about the look but bought if done right. Corporations killed small farming like all small biz in this country. Let the Whole Paycheck be next. No one is too big anymore. Great system we have that only destroys. In the end Wall Street gets it all. Some dude named Karl may have had a small point.
WFM is now just a place to get fancy-ish buffet lunches and browse through pseudoscience magazines regarding the latest all natural trends and snake oils.
Meh, I get free lard from the place. Grass fed lard too
Garden State for the apocalypse survival win.
Around here I’ve noticed WFM vegetable quality is lackluster. Careful shopping around results in better vegetables. If someone has the time, and reasonable money, it is possible to eat very healthy food. I was reading about people who seriously make fresh food for their cats, complete with vitamins and minerals added. Wow. I’d love to have the time to take care of myself and my family like that.