In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, The Shelby Report of the West recently visited with Lisette Gaviña Lopez, a fourth-generation coffee roaster at her family’s business, Vernon, California-based Gaviña Coffee Company. Company history For those unfamiliar with Gaviña Coffee Company, can you provide a brief overview of the company’s history? The Gaviña coffee legacy began […]
Category: Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market, founded in 1980 by John Mackey, Renee Lawson Hardy, Craig Weller, and Mark Skiles, originated in Austin, Texas. As a pioneer in the natural and organic foods movement, the brand has evolved into one of the world’s leading retailers of natural and organic foods.
The company’s business model revolves around offering high-quality, responsibly sourced products that promote health and well-being. The brand distinguishes itself by maintaining strict quality standards, including bans on artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in its products. With a commitment to sustainability, the chain supports local farmers and suppliers, prioritizing organic and non-GMO options whenever possible. Whole Foods Market operates over 500 locations across North America and the United Kingdom.
Posted inDairy News, Southwest, Whole Foods
40 From Whole Foods Market Become Certified Cheese Professionals
Forty employees of Whole Foods Market have joined its ranks of Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs), the highest level of achievement in the field. From production techniques and ripening processes to distribution and storage, the CCP exam is known for its comprehensive coverage of the cheese industry. Whole Foods Market’s newest CCPs completed the process after […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Predicts 2025 Top 10 Food Trends
Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council has released its 10th annual Top 10 anticipated food trends predictions report. For 2025, Whole Foods Market forecasts a boom in hydrating ready-to-drink beverages, a new wave of aquatic ingredients, added crunch to meals and fusion snack foods with international appeal. The Whole Foods Market Trends Council – a collective […]
Posted inGrocery Store Layout, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Planning Two Store Openings In October
The openings for two new Whole Foods Market stores on opposite sides of the U.S. are fast approaching – a 42,560-square-foot location Oct. 10 at 790 Lyannough Road in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and a 50,338-square-foot site Oct. 16 at 12500 N Tatum Blvd. in Phoenix, Arizona. Both locations are replacing existing stores in the area. Whole […]
Posted inSustainability News, National, Whole Foods
Report: Gen Z Looking For Transparency In Food Sustainability, Quality
Gen Z consumers are placing an emphasis on sustainability and quality in their grocery products, and many are willing to spend more to support brands that reflect these values, according to a recent YouGov survey conducted on behalf of Whole Foods Market. The findings, released Sept. 23, examine Gen Z food, health and grocery shopping […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Northeast, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Daily Shop Debuts In NYC’s Upper East Side
Whole Foods Market opened its first smaller format store, Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, on Sept. 18 in New York City’s Lenox Hill neighborhood in the Upper East Side. Located at 1175 Third Ave., the 9,101-square-foot store is designed to bring fresh, quality ingredients to urban customers. “Opening this first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Amazon Fresh, Market Profile, Southwest, Whole Foods
Smaller Independent Grocers Tapping Into Colorado’s Growing Sector
National chains such as King Soopers and Safeway may dominate market share in Colorado, but independent grocers continue to demonstrate why they are the choice for many consumers. In addition to resilience and innovation, independents have gained a loyal following through their product offerings, customer service and strong commitment to community. Not surprisingly, Colorado’s independent […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Southeast, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
Attracting Workers Remains Challenge For Grocers Across Kentucky
Labor continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the commonwealth’s grocers, according to Tod Griffin, executive director of the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association. “The one constant theme is they cannot find enough workers, especially in those skilled areas such as meat cutters and drivers to transport goods,” Griffin said. “They have […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Feature, Southeast, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
Mama Geraldine’s Snacks Returning To Grocery Shelves After Plant Burned
Following months of rebuilding after tragedy struck in September 2023, Mama Geraldine’s Cheese Straws and Bodacious Snacks is back in business. Cathy Cunningham, company founder, talked about her journey with The Shelby Report at the 2024 IDDBA Show. At a dinner last fall with some girlfriends in downtown Jasper, Georgia, Cunningham said she received a call […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Corporate Store News, National, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
Grocery Industry Responds To Proposed Price Gouging Ban
According to news reports, VP Kamala Harris shared the economic agenda for her presidential campaign on Aug. 16, proposing a federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries. Industry leaders are sharing their thoughts regarding her plan, which includes new penalties for companies that exploit crises and support for smaller food businesses “that are trying […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
July Online Grocery Sales Climbed 9% Versus Year Ago To $7.9B
The total U.S. online grocery market ended July with $7.9 billion in monthly sales, a 9.2 percent increase over last year. Delivery sales surged 22 percent in July, aided by continued promotional efforts. Ship-to-home also posted strong results, climbing 6 percent, and pickup held steady year-over-year, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey, fielded […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market’s 2023 Impact Report Highlights Agriculture
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has released its second annual Impact Report, which provides an in-depth look at the company’s investments in reducing waste, championing climate-smart agriculture, empowering its employees, sourcing its products and strengthening the communities in which it operates. “With our purpose to nourish people and the planet as our North Star, we […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Amazon Fresh, Rosauers, West, Whole Foods
Rosauers Supermarkets Signs On For Site In Belgrade, MT
Rosauers Supermarkets has signed a long-term lease at the Jackrabbit Crossing development in Belgrade, Montana, just northwest of Bozeman, according to Venture West Development, a real estate firm handling the project. The company said Jackrabbit Crossing is positioned to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Gallatin Valley community, which boasts a population of 127,880 […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Harris Teeter, Northeast, Whole Foods
Manna Tree Takes Controlling Interest In Verde Farms, Plans Expansion
Global private equity firm Manna Tree has taken a controlling interest in Verde Farms, a brand of organic, 100 percent grass-fed and pasture-raised beef. The investment aims to accelerate Verde’s growth in the rapidly expanding better-for-you (BFY) beef category, which is currently outpacing conventional beef by nearly three times. Manna Tree first invested in Verde Farms in January […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Northeast, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Opens Store In Huntington Station, NY
Whole Foods Market opened a new 43,916-square-foot store July 17 at 350 Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station, New York. The store’s design emphasizes simplicity and modernity, incorporating elements reminiscent of the bay area’s fluidity and the neighborhood’s commuter heritage. The new location’s product assortment features more than 2,000 local items from the Northeast, sourced […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Northeast, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Marks NYC Anniversary, Touts New Store Format
Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel, alongside 70 employees, rang the Nasdaq opening bell July 15 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its first New York City flagship store. The 2004 opening of the Columbus Circle location, the largest grocery store in the city at that time, marked a major step in the company’s expansion […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Expands Standards For Animal Welfare, Third-Party Certification
Whole Foods Market is expanding its commitment to animal welfare by requiring additional products and species meet its quality standards for meat. To support the effort, the company is increasing the number of approved third-party animal welfare programs that certify products sold in its stores. According to Whole Foods Market, taking these steps will lead […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Amazon Fresh, Market Profile, West, Whole Foods
Hammer & Wikan Celebrates ‘Simpler Life’ In Alaska’s Petersburg
Independent grocers across the U.S. face many challenges, but additional obstacles face those operating in Alaska. Hammer & Wikan is an independent grocer in Petersburg, Alaska, which is located on Mitkof Island in the southeastern part of the state. Hammer & Wikan was founded in 1921 by John Hammer and Andrew Wikan, two Norwegian immigrants. […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Online Grocery Sales Down Slightly Versus Last Year
The U.S. online grocery market totaled $6.8 billion in sales for May, a 0.4 percent dip versus last year. Despite a year-over-year gain in overall monthly active users, sales growth was restrained by a pullback in order frequency across all receiving methods versus last year, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey, fielded May […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Northeast, Whole Foods
Independent Grocers Building Strong Customer Relationships In Connecticut
One expert recently dubbed Connecticut’s grocery industry “a battleground of competition,” referring to the number of retailers in this market brandishing competitive pricing strategies to attract shoppers and online retail giants that are leveraging convenience with click-and-collect options. Price and convenience are valid drivers, especially given the economic pressure facing residents. But as independent retailers […]