Whole Foods and other HFS's
Posted by AshleyKimball on Feb 25, 2007 · Member since Nov 2006 · 536 posts
I went to whole foods for the first time yesterday, and I must say, it SUCKED. The rotting flesh department was strewn throughout the entire store, so no matter where I looked there were decaying corpses! Also, I never knew they sold deli type stuff, so the whole store smelled like barbequed animals--even the fresh flower department!
And everyone was walking around eating...it thoroughly creeped me out. It wasn't even free sample day, as I asked an employee, that's just how the store normally is. People walking around eating animal products--and then TOUCHING other food!! Bleach! I was thoroughly traumatized...it is definitly not a vegan-friendly place to me.
I noticed the nearly same thing about the Whole Foods in San Antonio. It seems there that most of the animal products are on the aisles at the walls of the store. So it seems to go against the conventional advice offered for shopping for healthy foods at a grocery store to shop around the edges and avoid the center aisles. The center aisles were where I found all the grains, whole grain noodles and other staples for vegetarian cooking. The fresh vegetables were really disappointing and right next to the meat section. I'm planning on checking out Central Market in San Antonio because I've been told it has what Whole Foods has but cheaper.
I really like our Whole Foods; they really only have two meat sections, the counter itself (off in a back corner), and the deli/salad bar (where all the fleshy-things are one side). I never really noticed it smelling "meaty," as such, though I'm from the Midwest, so I might be immune. I'd love to shop somewhere more local-farm friendly, but for now, it's the only place around where I can get more exotic items, ie. red/black lentils, nutritional yeast, and unsalted canned beans; and their bakery is awesome. (Though, on a similar note, my new "hometown," Columbia, MO, has this tiny littler bakery called "Uprise Bakery" that provides all the bread and rolls for my fav. Veggie/vegan restaurant; and they're amazing. So, I have my smalltown baker now. :D) So, I really don't have any major issues with Whole Foods, but I'm sorry your trip there was on the sour side. :-\
I go to Wild Oats (no Whole Foods around). The fleshy area is in one little corner and I can't smell it, but I'm still a fairly new veg*an. The produce is normally pretty good. I've just found a local co-op that I'm going to check out though. As far as eating while you shop...that is just weird, not to mention unsanitary. You should never go grocery shopping hungry. If I do, I always end up with stuff I don't need.
I go to Wild Oats (no Whole Foods around).
Whole Foods just bought up Wild Oats so I'm wondering if they will keep the Wild Oats name or rechristen those stores as Whole Foods. I just discovered from a list of vegetarian food sources that they are 3 Sun Harvest Farms that the listing says are also Wild Oats in San Antonio. I may check out one of them next time we're in San Antonio.
In my area I always chose whole foods over wild oats. Most things are considerably lower priced and a much better selection. When I have time I choose smaller ethnic markets though. They are very cheap and have amazing produce and spices that you can't find at conventional stores.
As for the sanitary aspect of sampling and shopping trust me it is not nearly as bad as what your food goes through in shipping and storage. I always wash all of my veg before using and wipe off cans before opening. Trust me you should really do this!
by definition, meat is still considered a whole food, fitting under the category of the clientele they are trying to attract.
Did I hear that Whole Foods is buying Wild Oats?
Anyway, I had a similar experience in our Whole Foods too. The main entrance is right in front of the deli area, which really smells meaty. I find it disappointing also, but I don't really have a reason to shop there, so I don't.
Yes, I know I read that Whole Foods is buying Wild Oats....it's a done deal.
As far as for them selling "dead rotting flesh on ice".....I once posted something here about a product that I purchased that said it was made in a factory that also processes dairy, eggs, etc.
I asked if I should support a company that made a profit off of animal suffering. I believe it was Idioglossia that replied to me and said that if we all purchase more and more vegan products from stores and companies, it will increase their profits for those items. Those same companies and stores will then be more likely to increase the amount of vegan products they sell. Though it's hard to do at times.....when approaching the "dead body parts on display" section...just keep moving....go buy some great vegan products and request to the management that they increase the amount of vegan friendly products they offer for sale.
BTW...Whole Foods did stop selling live lobsters once us vege's put pressure on them.
Regarding the question as to whether Whole Foods will change the name of Wild Oats, the answer is yes. My boyfriend works for Wild Oats and management has informed them that the transition from Wild Oats to Whole Foods will take place in about 2 months (at their store).
The Wild Oats here also has the animal flesh section confined to a single section across the back wall. They keep the store very clean so there are no offensive odors, at least none that I have noticed.
Davedrum, I think you are right. I wrote to Trader Joe's a few weeks ago, praising them for their vegan products, and requesting that they carry truly vegan cheese and vitamins. They thanked me and said that they would look into it, and I think they also forwarded my comments to my local store. When I went there a few days ago, I noticed a lot of the handmade signs underneath the products said things like, "Even vegans can enjoy these!" I don't remember seeing those before. I'm sure they hear from a lot of vegans besides me, so I don't know if my letter had anything to do with the signs, but it's nice to believe it did!
By the way, I wouldn't have thought to write to Trader Joe's if it weren't for the whole Fired-Up Fridays thing around here. Even if I don't do what everybody else is doing, I look around for letters to write every Friday. Everyone here, especially RobinMc, who started the idea, should know you are impacting more people than you know. Thanks!
Davedrum, I think you are right. I wrote to Trader Joe's a few weeks ago, praising them for their vegan products, and requesting that they carry truly vegan cheese and vitamins. They thanked me and said that they would look into it, and I think they also forwarded my comments to my local store. When I went there a few days ago, I noticed a lot of the handmade signs underneath the products said things like, "Even vegans can enjoy these!" I don't remember seeing those before. I'm sure they hear from a lot of vegans besides me, so I don't know if my letter had anything to do with the signs, but it's nice to believe it did!
I so wish we had Trader Joe's in Florida. I sent them a "location request" for Tampa and am encouraging all my friends to do the same. Maybe if we inundate them with requests......
I love Whole Foods! I live in Manhattan and go to the one at Columbus Circle every other week. Basically they try and that's really all i can ask, it's better than any other chain super market i have ever been to. I can find an array of vegetarian /vegan choices of healthy, organic, wholesome foods for much cheaper than small stores. Plus they also have their own brand of biodegradable cleaners and such which are significantly cheaper than seventh generation, method etc....I love the fact that they are making more wholesome/organic foods more readily accessible and they do so with a conscious, they are voted one of the top 100 companies to work for in the country and they make their product info readily available on their website. They have food to suit every lifestyle and i am glad they do. I support freedom of choice and i just lead by example.
We love our Whole Foods store, too, and my DH and I go there for "dates" every week. It takes us about 45 minutes to get there so it's quite a trek. One of the best things about WF is their customer service. In this day and time ANYthing resembling customer service is rare but WF is amazing (at least the one we go to). They are friendly, proactive, and responsive to requests. We've gone there so much that staff recognizes us. One day our favorite checkout person left her express station (no one was checking out there) to help us unload our buggy because she wanted to help us and we had too much to go through her lane.
I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience, Ashley. We love to snack around the store, but they don't sample out meat products and they have places for people to eat cafe-style so I don't see them walking around eating meat either. Our Whole Foods has two "restaurant" sections, one that serves fish and the other a trattoria. We do have to pass by those but we pass by quickly and just focus on what we're there for. I haven't noticed the deli section smelling like meat particularly--but I probably will now. ;)
I don't want to eat meat myself, but I grew up eating meat, visit with friends and family who eat meat, and go to restaurants where people eat meat, so I'm used to smelling meat cooking and seeing people eat it. I don't like to see the raw meats in food stores so I just do my best to avoid them but I try not to let the fact that they are there ruin the rest of my experience because we love going there. The worst are the whole salmon, huge and hard to miss. Most of the time I just don't look in that direction. We're moving past that area pretty quickly anyway because of the smell and I'm headed toward things I like and want.
by definition, meat is still considered a whole food, fitting under the category of the clientele they are trying to attract.
That's the bottom line. With 97% of the population non-vegan they want their $$$$ anyway they can get it.
Going to HFS's that sell meat doesn't bother me anymore than going to the grocery store does. I go to one of those huge grocery stores where on certain days you can catch a cook cooking meat on every corner.
But I can understand the shock of expecting a HFS to be a little different.