Whole Foods Market Case Study Analysis

📌Category: Business, Corporation, Retailing
📌Words: 1028
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 05 February 2022

Before Piggly Wiggly, the first “self service” grocery store, opened in 1916, people had to shop for different types of food in separate stores (Girdwain). Supermarkets have become more prevalent throughout the years, making it extremely convenient for people to purchase everything on their shopping list in one place. Individuals now have access to local supermarkets where they can purchase a wider range of products. These supermarkets are unique in that they each stock products that cater to their customers' preferences. Whole Foods, for example, is a supermarket known for its organic selections, “It started out with one small store in Austin, Texas. Today, they are the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, with 500+ stores in North America and the UK” (“About”). Whole Foods Market is a great place to shop because it has a large selection of healthier products, a well-organized store layout, and is easily accessible to a large number of people.

Whole Foods offers a large selection of healthier products including organic produce and dietary-friendly options, such as vegan, vegetarian, keto-friendly, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and dairy-free alternatives. Whole Foods’ website states, “We believe that the best ingredients belong on your plate. That’s why we’ve banned hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin — along with more than 100 colors, preservatives, flavors and other ingredients from all of the food we sell in our stores” (“Food”). Whole Foods provides all kinds of natural foods in one place where customers tend to find items that are not accessible in other grocery stores. Those who are allergic to gluten, for instance, may find it difficult to find foods that cater to their needs, but Whole Foods offers a wide range of gluten-free options, making it a dependable source for many people with strict dietary restrictions. 

Whole Foods also has many other products that include a salad and sushi bar, a deli with a variety of cheeses, a bakery with many pastries, organic produce, meat and seafood, flowers, supplements, beauty products, body care, etc. Whole Foods also makes sure all of their meat and seafood products meet their standards or they will refuse to sell it. For example, Whole Foods writes, “All of the wild-caught seafood we sell is from fisheries certified to meet the Marine Stewardship Council Standard for sustainable fishing or rated either “Green” or “Yellow” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.” (“Seafood”). Green indicates the most abundant and environmentally friendly catch method, while yellow indicates some concerns about how they are caught and managed. Wild caught fish are free of chemicals, making them less susceptible to diseases which is important in providing customers with higher quality seafood. Whole Foods also has animal welfare standards for their meat, “Traceable to farm or ranch. No antibiotics, ever, and no added growth hormones. Because better meat is our commitment to you” (“Meat”). Animal welfare standards are important because taking proper care of their animals also results in higher-quality meat for their customers. Whole Foods carries higher-quality foods and healthier products that are free of added chemicals.

Many people consider Whole Foods to be a great place to shop because of its well-organized store layout. Given the size of Whole Foods Markets, the way they are designed is critical for increasing sales. For example, Supermarket News states, “Whole Foods supermarkets average around 38,000 square feet and can range up to 50,000 square feet” (Russell). The organic produce section, which is full of fresh fruits and vegetables, is located at the front of the store to attract customers. They also include whether their products are Non-GMO, Gluten Free, or locally sourced next to the price on the shelf because knowing where your food comes from and how it is picked, caught, or made is important to developing a healthy relationship with food, which their store layout encourages. In each aisle of the store, they also have their own core values displayed for their customers to see. Some read, “We sell the highest quality natural and organic products available. We satisfy, delight, and nourish our customers. We serve and support our local and global communities” (“Our”). Incorporating these core values into the design of the supermarket allows for a more welcoming environment for the customers. Overall, the Whole Foods store layout was developed to be a well-organized and welcoming environment for all of its customers. 

Furthermore, Whole Foods has become more convenient for customers to access their groceries. Whole Foods has been partnered with Amazon since 2017, which has resulted in numerous benefits for their customers. Amazon prime members are able to get discounts on sale items, order their groceries online, pick them up or even get them delivered to their door. Some customers have offered their own review on what they think about the store layout and online shopping aspect of Whole Foods. Some include: “Whole Foods Market is now my favorite grocery store. It's so clean and well-organized. Whether shopping online or walking up the street to the Whole Foods in my neighborhood, it's always a pleasurable experience. Highly recommended,” and another customer who said, “I have shopped at Whole Foods for years...even before they became a part of Amazon...I liked it then and I like it even more now with the Amazon Prime Specials that the store features for Prime members. Also as an octogenarian, I appreciate their Home delivery service…” (“The”). These customers, as well as many others, value the benefits and convenience that Whole Foods has to offer.

Some people claim that Whole Foods is not a good place to shop because its products are overpriced; however, many have noticed that their prices have been decreasing over the past few years. For example, Investopedia states, “Since being purchased by Amazon in 2017, prices at Whole Foods have been coming down, sometimes quite significantly and Whole Foods has been slowly losing the nickname ‘Whole Paycheck’” (Maverick). Since healthier options do come at a slightly higher price, many people believe these products free of artificial colors, preservatives, etc. are worth the price. Ultimately, Whole Foods is becoming increasingly affordable and a growing number of people are beginning to shop there. 

Overall, Whole Foods is a great place to shop because of its healthier options, well-designed store, and easy access to basic essentials. It is known for its wide variety of organic options and products free of artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, and hydrogenated fats. In order to be sold in their stores, their meat must meet animal welfare standards, and their seafood must meet sustainability standards. Their stores are well-organized, encouraging customers to live a healthy lifestyle, and their partnership with Amazon allows many people to shop for groceries from the convenience of their own home.

+
x
Remember! This is just a sample.

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Order now
By clicking “Receive Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails.