Whole Foods coming to Calgary

[Regulator75]

Austin, Texas-based natural and organic supermarket chain Whole Foods has announced that it will open three stores in Western Canada, as it continues its Canadian store expansion. Whole Foods is working with a brokerage to secure more locations and we're told that further store announcements will be made shortly. The company is also expanding its business with its original Toronto location, adding gourmet take-out and dine-in facilities.

Whole Foods will open in Edmonton, Calgary and in suburban Victoria, and its Alberta stores will be the first for that province.

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail.../2/whole-foods



I've heard a rumour that it might go to Northland Mall.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail.../2/whole-foods

I've heard a rumour that it might go to Northland Mall.

I don't know if I would shop there but it would be cool to see Northland get an exciting, new, potentially flagship tenant. That mall is pretty disappointing. Maybe a Whole Foods will push Wal-Mart to upgrade their crap-tastic store at Northland.

[Nyah]

If the prices are anything like Community Natural Foods, Mrs. Greens, etc., this place will be a rip off of epic proportions. But...it will no doubt be packed every single day.

[OldDutch]

I have shopped there a few times in the US. It isn't going to take away any Superstore customers on price that is for sure. However, I think it will take the Communiy Natural Foods customers, and even some of the co-op customers that are paying top dollar for food.

Whole foods has excellent quality meats, cheese, and produce. Their fresh lunch/deli are very good as well. I think the catch will be price, they have to make it at least comparable to their competition. Funny how lots of US retailers don't seem to get that critical part and figure Canadians will come running for the honour of pretending we are American.

[burn_this_city]

If only Trader Joes would do this.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Debaji's anyone? As much as they could use a new flagship tenant, Northland is a terrible location for this as the area demographics (old, Asian) are more about price than quality.

Kind of has to be in the SW or inner city to really capture the latte sipper / quinoa salad types.

All the comments above on price are hilarious - price will always be higher for Whole Foods than Sobeys, CoOp or Superstore. Organic, farm fresh, sustainablev, cruelty free cuts of unicorn don't come cheap you know.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Organic, farm fresh, sustainablev, cruelty free cuts of unicorn don't come cheap you know.

Mmmmm, unicorn...

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I don't know if I would shop there but it would be cool to see Northland get an exciting, new, potentially flagship tenant. That mall is pretty disappointing. Maybe a Whole Foods will push Wal-Mart to upgrade their crap-tastic store at Northland.

When I think Yuppies...Northland mall is probably the last place that comes to mind. That would be a terrible choice for WF.

You'd need either somewhere in the innercity to capture the Capitol Hill/Hillhurst crowd, or Marda Loop to get that gentrifying area, or even somewhere like Aspen.

NW/NE is more Superstore supporting, so you basically need a large concentration of Whitey yuppies with disposable income.

[troutman]

Following the recent outbreak of measles at Disneyland, Jason Millman, a reporter for The Washington Post's Wonkblog, called out "the anti-vaccination movement" in a January 22 post, describing them as "over-privileged group of rich people" who "overwhelmingly" voted for Obama. Millman repeated the observation "that you only had to go visit a Whole Foods to find anti-vaxxers."

- See more at: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/joseph-....pW2K2ae8.dpuf

Whole Foods is an empire based on the foundation of the natural fallacy.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/miss...ood-better-you

But is organic food more nutritious?
We think it might be.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/gmo-your-right-know

We are the first national grocery chain to set a deadline for full GMO transparency.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...esnt-tell-you/

Whole Foods Market is a relentlessly hip American supermarket chain which prides itself on organic fruits and vegetables, gluten-free just-about-everything, and high-end touches like wine bars and exotic take out items (roasted yucca, anyone?). The health products aisle is stocked with Bach Flower and homeopathic remedies. For example, in-house brand Flu Ease: “an established homeopathic formula that should be taken at the first sign of flu for temporary relief of symptoms including fever chills and body aches.”

Selling Flu Ease and like products certainly exhibits a lack of appreciation for scientific evidence, not to mention basic science. But I recently saw a product in the checkout line that was so filled with over-the-top quackery and so shocking in its disregard for the public’s health that I haven’t been back to Whole Foods since. And I won’t be going back.

[Kavvy]

So,

if anyone is interested, that link posted in the OP was blocked for me, reason: Reputation-Viruses

Unsure if valid.

[Canehdianman]

Well, measles IS a virus.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

If only Trader Joes would do this.

They are the one chain I always hope we get in Canada. Good quality food, often organic, that is beyond reasonably priced.

Whole Foods is nice on occasion, but because of the price it's hard to justify it more as an occasional trip (and Sunterra tends to fill this niche). Trader Joes would be a total game changer…although I would imagine the Canadian market wouldn't really be able to sustain their low process.

[Resolute 14]

A yuppie grocery store still has the problem of being a grocery store. It doesn't matter where they put it, they won't draw a significant number of customers from anywhere but the local neighbourhood.

[bomber317]

I've shopped there in the US a few times. I didn't think the pricing was that outrageous. It definitely won't steal the superstore/costco shoppers away.

I do think that it would do better downtown as opposed to Northland

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

So,

if anyone is interested, that link posted in the OP was blocked for me, reason: Reputation-Viruses

Unsure if valid.

The Herald has it too: http://calgaryherald.com/business/co...algary-in-2017


That photo looks like it would fit in the former Sobey's on 32nd Ave NE. As others have already said, the demographics of the area are probably not a good fit for that type of store, though.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Ducay

When I think Yuppies...Northland mall is probably the last place that comes to mind. That would be a terrible choice for WF.

You'd need either somewhere in the innercity to capture the Capitol Hill/Hillhurst crowd, or Marda Loop to get that gentrifying area, or even somewhere like Aspen.

NW/NE is more Superstore supporting, so you basically need a large concentration of Whitey yuppies with disposable income.

Planet Organic does very well just down the street from Northland in Varsity. It appears to always be packed full of people. The folks in the Varsity/University Heights/Charleswood/Brentwood etc might not be conventional yuppies but there is a lot of disposable income in that area.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

A yuppie grocery store still has the problem of being a grocery store. It doesn't matter where they put it, they won't draw a significant number of customers from anywhere but the local neighbourhood.

I kind of agree, but clearly you must never be in Community Natural Foods. Its "a grocery store" but much more of a destination store.

I've been in Whole Foods in the US and am in no rush to go back. I wasn't blown away by anything they offered, but then again I'm probably not their target audience anyway.

[Knut]

At least all the pro-diseasers will be in the same place.

[troutman]

The Planet Organic Story:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/life...nic-1993-2010/

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...webster-square

Planet Organic declared bankruptcy in 2010 and its assets were acquired by Catalyst Capital Group, a Toronto-based private equity group.

The Varsity store was mostly deserted in the beginning. It is certainly busier now, but there is usually only one or two cashiers required. They have some specialty stuff I like, but I can't wrap my head around paying 4X as much for a chicken breast or apple, compared to Safeway.

[corporatejay]

I like Co-Op midtown market. They seem to source a lot of local product so I don't mind paying more to support local. I also think they help employ challenged people to do basic tasks which I also applaud.

Paying more to support a big local chain over another isn't really my bag.