Whole Foods coming to Calgary

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I'm amazed Co-op is still around. I suspect they'll get gobbled up someday, especially in this cut--throat market . . . I've been saving that for a decade, mind.

Coop isn't going anywhere. Federated Cooperatives Limited does around $10 billion in annual sales while only operating in Western Canada. Empire, which owns Sobey's and Safeway does just over $20 billion and they operate across Canada. Loblaw does $30 billion.

[socalwingfan]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Whole Paycheck

Yep - I don't go there with the wife anymore due to the sticker shock. I will stick to Trader Joe's and their messed up parking lots everytime

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Yep - I don't go there with the wife anymore due to the sticker shock. I will stick to Trader Joe's and their messed up parking lots everytime

Do you have a Sprouts nearby? its actually a bit cheaper

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Are you kidding? North Hill mall is where dreams go to die. They need at least six more dollar stores in that place.

I'm not suggesting they'd go there to benefit from mall traffic, I'm suggesting they'd be a destination shop in a basically inner city location, near to sunnyside/hillhurst/capital hill, which are pretty yuppy neighbourhooods. There aren't too many places that close in where a big space would conceivably be available...

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The Sears in North Hill Mall would be a good location for them, and Sears is probably willing to sell. (They own their land, so I doubt Safeway would be able to veto another grocer).

Concord Pacific has bought that site. It's destined to be condos, though I'm sure they could squeeze some more retail in.

That said, that site is too far East. Need to get the SW aspen crowd in, not Sait students.

[csnarpy]

I like Whole Foods and Traders Joes strictly for their inhouse cold press juices. $3/$4 per bottle. - as juice is a main part of my diet, it'll put pressure on the other cold press juice companies that are charging $12 and up per bottle. Which is frikking outrageous.

Can't wait!

[Knut]

^ Juice is a main part of your diet?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

I like Whole Foods and Traders Joes strictly for their inhouse cold press juices. $3/$4 per bottle. - as juice is a main part of my diet, it'll put pressure on the other cold press juice companies that are charging $12 and up per bottle. Which is frikking outrageous.

Can't wait!

Boy are you in for a disappointment if you think American pricing is going to come to Canada. If other companies are charging $12 an up, you can probably expect Whole Foods to show up at $11.

[fatso]

We live close to a Whole Foods in Vancouver. Mrs. Fatso can't give them money fast enough. For the most part it is way overpriced, rhetoric-laden groceries which you can find elsewhere, for cheaper, if you apply yourself. That said, some of their produce is pretty good and uniquely available in my limited shopping scope.

Whomever said their prepared foods are decently priced is nuts. Sure it tastes good, and presumably is healthier than other prepare foods (don't know for sure), but it's outrageously expensive. I have a receipt for $4.50 for two baked chicken drumsticks from a few weeks ago that confirms the same.

If you (or your spouse) are inclined to buy into the whole unproven organic phenomenon, then just sign your paycheques over now.

[Phanuthier]

^ get ready to bend over boys....

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Wasn't there a grocery store rumoured to be going into East Village?

It was supposed to be a Loblaws or something.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I'm amazed Co-op is still around. I suspect they'll get gobbled up someday, especially in this cut--throat market . . . I've been saving that for a decade, mind.

I'd encourage you to go inside one of the newly renovated Co-ops. They've got an incredible offering of fresh product especially in the cheese, meat and bakery sections.

They're not going anywhere for a long time.

[Hack&Lube]

We'll never get American pricing here in Canada for meat and especially dairy. "Supply Management" in Canada is a terrible thing and the Dairy lobby is powerful and rich and manipulative.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_...t_%28Canada%29

This is why certain food items in Canada are exorbitantly priced and why its so hard to find decent European cheeses, etc.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'd encourage you to go inside one of the newly renovated Co-ops. They've got an incredible offering of fresh product especially in the cheese, meat and bakery sections.

They're not going anywhere for a long time.

Don't get me wrong, I love Co-op (especially for meat and produce), prefer shopping local, and I visit either the downtown or Richmond Road location almost weekly. But their prices seem really high compared to their competitors--even Safeway, if that's possible.

I just keep wondering if their days are numbered in a market as crowded as Calgary's, especially if they can't get more competitive price-wise. But I acknowledge that this city is something of an anomaly in ways--there's a lot of money in Calgary, and maybe people just don't care about a few dollars difference for groceries or are incredibly loyal shoppers. That should bode well for Whole Foods, then. And maybe there is room for all the players out there, I don't know.

[pylon]

Any company that hawks Homeopathy products instantly has zero credibility, and deserves to go bankrupt. If you shop there, you are fuelling one of the biggest piles of pseudo-science dung industries on the planet. Anyone who sells or manufactures Homeopathic cures should be sent to prison for voluntary manslaughter, because they know it doesn't work, and many dying people have relied on the products as alternative cures, when conventional medicine could have saved them.

Whole Foods won't get a nickel from me on that basis alone.

[scotty2hotty]

Not that I disagree with your thoughts oh homeopathy ...

But I'm pretty sure that every legit pharmacy sells homeopathy products now as well.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Not that I disagree with your thoughts oh homeopathy ...

But I'm pretty sure that every legit pharmacy sells homeopathy products now as well.

I've never seen them, then again, I've never gone looking for them so you may be right.

[scotty2hotty]

Yeah, I've just actually noticed them recently.

I was in both Safeway pharmacy and Shoppers looking for cold meds and caught myself unintentionally reading the labels on a couple of homeo bottles. Took me a second to catch on.

Disappointing, but yeah....what ya gonna do?

[Knut]

Yeah shoppers has a bunch of the in all aisles.

A bunch of stuff in the cough suppressant aisle that are like 18.99. I audibely groan when I see them.

[pylon]

Well then I guess I have to go to the rainforest to get my own medicine then, since it looks like I have to boycott all the drug stores. I feel a flu coming on.... see you all after my 3 year expedition!