Thoughts on Whole Foods/Wild Oats merger

I agree... a lot of high end stores are going organic. In just the last year, the locals (HEB ,Kroger & Randalls) have totally rebuilt and/or designated entire sections of stores for organic and prepared foods in the Whole Food model. In some instances, they've totally remodeled existing stores in that mode.

If the 2 starters want to merge to protect market interests, they ought to be allowed to. No court orders have been issued to the copycats...why shouldn't the originators be allowed to maintain or grow their market share?

Richard

Since there isn't a Whole Foods store in all of Oklahoma (who am I kidding, there's only two cities in this State that could support one!), and the Tulsa Wild Oats just doubled its floor space last fall, I would say that here, Wild Oats is the successful one. I do like the selections available, especially the gourmet chocolates and imported cheeses, but the prices keep me out most of the time.

What I'd really like to see is wine sales allowed in grocery stores.

What I'd really like to see is wine sales allowed in grocery stores.

I do like the fact that one can buy all forms of booze in the grocery stores here in New Mexico. One thing I really don't like about my home state of Pennsylvania is the complex system they have for selling alcohol.

Wine and liquor is sold only through state stores, which are closed on all the holidays--just when you want something. (It used to be that you couldn't browse or even see what you were buying; you had to order off a list and the clerk would retrieve it from a back room. You can now browse.)

Then, to buy beer, you have to go a "beer warehouse," where everything is sold by the case, only. Otherwise, you can buy a single 6-pack over the counter at a bar. It's soooo convenient.

Egads, Larry! Pennsylvania makes Texas look like a forward thinking state when it comes to booze laws. Of course, in all other areas that actually help build a good life (education, health care, transportation, housing, environment, etc.) we are pretty much dead last in the entire nation. Somebody needs to make Rick Perry dance!

rwj

P.s. Now, back to the original thread. Sorry about the rant.

Of course, in all other areas that actually help build a good life (education, health care, transportation, housing, environment, etc.) we are pretty much dead last in the entire nation.

But still pretty much ahead of New Mexico, Robert.

Of course, in all other areas that actually help build a good life (education, health care, transportation, housing, environment, etc.) we are pretty much dead last in the entire nation.

But still pretty much ahead of New Mexico, Robert.

But New Mexico is still pretty. Cling to hope, Cynthia .

rwj

Oklahoma is, well, Oklahoma. Sigh... I think I should have tried harder to convince my wife to move East instead of me moving to Tulsa, when we were courting!

Wait, let me get this straight. You convinced her to move to Tulsa?

rwj

No, she convinced ME to move to Tulsa. Mainly 'twas the fact that she had school-age kids, and mine was already grown and independent. No big worries really, it got me a time zone away from my Ex!
I have a lobbying effort underway to get her to the Pacific Northwest eventually. The Olympic Peninsula rocks for an outdoorsey guy like me!

I think that we should all join forces to help lobby Robert R. out of Tulsa. You could post your wife's email address and we'll have you out of there by the end of the week.

rwj

P.s. When my son is grown, we want to get the hell out of Texas and the PNW beckons at times.