Whole Foods Market Giant Trying to Take Over Hawaii

Whole Foods is the largest retail chain store of "natural and organic foods" in the United States. They have demonstrated aggresive tactics in going after as much market share as possible in an increasingly competitive industry.

In the last fiscal year ended September 2006, publicly traded Whole Foods reported sales of $5.6 billion. The company is seeking to become dramatically larger by acquiring No. 1 rival Wild Oats for $565 million, though the Federal Trade Commission is attempting to block the proposed acquisition in court, arguing that the combined company would control too much of the natural foods market.

In the next few years, Whole Foods is opening 4 new stores in Hawaii -- on Oahu and Maui. Besides being a giant retailer of natural foods, they are also a giant when it comes to the square footage of their stores.

WHOLE FOODS MARKETS VS. NATURAL FOODS STORES IN HAWAI'I

Here's their size in square feet compared with the nearest existing natural foods market.

Kahala

26,000

(opening '08)

'Umeke Market

4,500

Ward Centers

67,000

(opening '08)

Down to Earth MO'ili'ili

6,000

Kahului, Maui

26,300

('08 or '09)

Mana foods PA'ia, Maui

6,500

Kailua

40,000

(opening '10)

The source

1,400

The local Hawaii health food stores and supermarkets will be affected by Whole Foods, and some may even close. The ones that survive however, will do so by adjusting and becoming better businesses.

Do you have a Whole Foods Market in your area and do you shop there? What do you like and don't like about them?

Read more information about Whole Foods Markets Opening in Hawaii.

Comments

[Kenyo]

They have lovely stores filled with wonderful goodies, but Whole Foods is so expensive. They charge what I think of as "Hawaiian prices" in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. What will their prices be in Hawaii?

And while they are expanding...maybe they could build one here in Pensacola? Please.

[Sheila]

I hope Whole Foods won't squeeze out the locally established stores. That's the hard part of "progress" that I never like to see happening. Is it possible that there is enough demand for everyone?

We have Whole Foods stores here in North Carolina. I only shop there once or twice a year because their prices are expensive and there isn't a store that is convenient to my house. There is another store we have here called Earth Fare that's a lot like Whole Foods. I like it a little better.

[Robert]

Great post. I lived on the Big Island for 2 1/2 years and absolutely loved it!!! Glad I found your site. I live in Venice CA now and shop at my local Natural Co-op Health Food Store. Whole foods is not the way to go as far as I'm concerned. It's a gourmet superstore with organic food and nothing else. There prices are ridiculous and are extremely wasteful given their size. It's to bad because the Big Island, for one, is just fine with their local health food stores and farmers markets as far as I'm concerned. Keep us posted.

[HawaiiVacationGifts]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have never been to a Whole Foods Market, but used to like Mrs. Gooches in Gardena, when I was attending art school in California.

[Opal Tribble]

I occasionally shop there but most of my produce is grown in my garden. I purchase the majority of my grains and beans online for a very good organic source. I purchase in bulk.

I invested in Whole Foods stock about three years ago. That was a good decision.

[HawaiiVacationGifts]

Opal,
Who needs Whole Foods if more people had such a lovely garden as yours.