topic Re: Whole Foods change in ownership in Kitchen

Whole Foods change in ownership

mia 2 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:15:45 GMT

So disappointed since Amazon took over Whole Foods. My friends and I have seen big changes and not good ones. They have eliminated many of the prepared foods they used to sell. Cut back on many gluten-free products. Cut back on variety in salad bar. Customer Service has gone way down hill. They don't even care about the customers. SO different than before Amazon owned it! They cut back prices 5-10% but got rid of all the good things we went there for! Cutting out my regular trip to them and going to Wegman's or cooking at home. Anyone else see this in their Whole Foods? !

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

Love my grandkids — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:24:56 GMT

Have to admit I've never been a big fan of WF. Have picked up a thing or two over the years but that's it. I found their prices too high on a few things I might have gotten there. Luckily, I found what I wanted at Von's and Albertson's (this was in So. California).

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

CLEM — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:26:08 GMT

Major disappointment here too. What made Whole Foods special is gone. I have been at two locations recently and they are both the same. Bought a chuck roast. When I got home it was evening and I just put it in the refrigerator. Took it out the next day and put it on the kitchen counter when I noticed a lot of water (pink) flooding out. I looked on the floor and there was quite a lot of the stuff. In all my life and no matter where I shopped, I have never seen anything like this. They must have stuffed the meat with ice cubes to make it heavier. Also, when I got to the meat counter, whoever was behind it just said to me what do you want in a really gruff voice.

Whenever I have to call Amazon, they are always friendly and helpful.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

hopi — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:27:54 GMT

Mariano's was taken over by Kroger and the store is changing.

Disappointed

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

World Traveler — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:31:01 GMT

I am happy with the change. Many of the items I always purchase from Whole Foods are now cheaper, like the 16-ounce 365 (store brand) Almond Butter. Was paying $7.99 in my area; now it is $6.99. It is the only brand of almond butter that I like.

There was a sign by it and other products, saying in effect that the lower prices were due to Amazon joining with Whole Foods.

I have not noticed anything else different about the store. It still looks the same, I find the same products I used before, the staff is the same, and the displays are the same.

Except for the lower prices, I wouldn't have known there was a change.

Love to hang out in the produce section; their displays are always so beautiful. Hate to take anything from them and disturb the wonderful way they show their food!

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

Vivian — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 01:55:10 GMT

I’ve never been a fan of Whole Foods. Their prices are insane, and after I saw a cockroach crawling through their rolls in a central Florida store, I just couldn’t shop in any Whole Foods store. I adore Wegman’s. Their quality and customer service can’t be beat.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

MarkeieMark — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 02:08:20 GMT

The one here has fallen and it can't get up. It's ruined.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

momtochloe — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 02:18:48 GMT

@hopi wrote:
Mariano's was taken over by Kroger and the store is changing.
Disappointed

Oh goodness no I didn't know about this @hopi. Phooey, that's a real loss to the area as Mariano's was such a breath of fresh air . . .

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

hopi — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 02:20:15 GMT

@momtochloe wrote:
@hopi wrote:
Mariano's was taken over by Kroger and the store is changing.
Disappointed
Oh goodness no I didn't know about this @hopi. Phooey, that's a real loss to the area as Mariano's was such a breath of fresh air . . .

It was a total buyout. so they will keep the name and probably break the unions.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

momtochloe — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 02:32:21 GMT

@hopi thanks for letting me know as I haven't been in a Mariano's for a while with my moving. I had coupons sitting on my counter that I have now pitched. What a shame as they were a well run company and everyone I ever interacted with always seemed happy to be there. To be honest, I am surprised Bob Mariano cashed out so fast after being treated so badly when Dominick's was bought out by Safeway. I hope their employees are ok as they were always so nice and helpful. Sigh.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

evelyner — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:45:13 GMT

I agree, the changes are not for better

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

mia 2 — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:57:42 GMT

Before I shopped there all the time. It is 1 block from my house. Now I will only go at most once a week for picking up one item. Such a shame for people like me who needed their specialty foods for special diets. I feel they ruined a good thing. Now it is so much harder to get the special diet foods that I need.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

GSPgirl — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:48:42 GMT

I’m done with this store. I went in at 7:30am today to pick up my prime rib as I have been doing for years. The butcher said it wasn’t ready before even asking my name. I told him I called a week in advance and it should be ready. He said the other butcher hadn’t had the time today to cut it. I said that’s why I called a week ago. I said this has never happened before. Then I looked at buying green beans and they were horrible looking. I didn’t buy them. Actually I didn’t buy anything else and went to a different grocery store. The cashier was also rude and could have cared less about me.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

AspenGrove — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 17:02:04 GMT

Sorry to hear that. I haven't had any bad experience since Amazon bought WF. I am thrilled with the price cuts on many items I buy and I haven't seen any evidence of altered customer service.

In fact, just last weekend I was in my local WF and discovered the milk I wanted was pushed really far back in the dairy aisle. I couldn't reach it even by standing on the edge of the shelf and couldn't find any employees nearby, so I walked over to the customer service desk and asked if they could have someone in the dairy dept. push the milk forward. The woman I spoke to was aghast that this problem had occurred and walked back to the aisle with me. She went into the back and had someone push it all forward and then came back out with two stickers that she attached to the two milk cartons, labeling them "free" ... and signing her name. She apologized profusely and said, "When we screw up as we did today, we always make it right." Wow. I wasn't expecting that but it's typical of the great customer service I've always had a WF.

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

mia 2 — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 16:03:11 GMT

I guess it is store- by -store now. Sounds like some are still good and some have really dropped the ball. What a shame. It was one store I could totally count on, but not any more! Thanks all for your input...

Re: Whole Foods change in ownership

jaxs mom — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 19:55:17 GMT

I haven't been to Whole Foods since October, but if they reduce the prepared food and increase normal grocery shopping items I'd be thrilled. The newer stores over the years seem to have morphed into a place to get prepared food items or alcohol.

We don't have one where I live now but I used to use Whole Foods as my main grocery store. I do go there when I'm out of town.