Guess Who's Coming? ... Whole Foods

Whole Foods, after years of talk, is finally coming to the Islands.  I can't wait to see what's available there, especially since there aren't many specialty grocers here.  The store's main competition, I think, would be local grocer/retailer Down To Earth. 

Read here to see what the Honolulu Advertiser has to say.  And you can read here, to find out what's being said in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

I'm just happy that Whole Foods is going to be in my neck of the woods!

Comments

[cindy]

There's a Whole Foods here in Columbus. I've visited a few times. I have to admit it's a huge store, and their cheese selection is wonderful. They even let you taste test! They have an extensive prepared foods section: a pizza station with woodfire oven, a pasta and salad station with seating, a gelateria, a chocolate station, a roasted nut station, an amazing bakery with deserts and pastries, as well as the usual self-serve antipasto stations, soup station, and sushi station. I'm a little conflicted about such a huge entity taking up residence here, since we do have some very capable natural foods and specialty markets on a smaller scale that are sure to feel the dropoff--but I guess competition is good? In Hawaii, I can only think of Huckleberry Farms and Down to Earth, and I think they have loyal enough followings to keep them going. I would say that Whole Foods is definitely trendier and will attract that crowd, especially being located in Ward.

[MBS]

A Whole Foods in Honolulu will be expensive, and that alone might make Down to Earth and Kokua Coop more competitive. It's like that Walmart on Keeaumoku near Ala Moana--rather expensive for a Walmart!

On the other hand, I don't think that Whole Foods really advertises itself as an "organic" market the way DtE or Kokua are organic. It's really more of an upscale market that uses the "organic" label as marketing--to separate themselves from regular supermarkets. Also, I think that the Whole Foods there will be aimed at the condo dwellers that will be living nearby.

Bottom line: I predict they will be more expensive than the average "whole paycheck."

[Reid]

Hi Cindy,

I was thinking that Whole Foods would fit in well with the market that the Ward/Ala Moana area attracts. I do hope that General Growth plans on updating the Ward Farmers Market as I envision that it could be something like the Saturday Farmers Market at KCC.

I've only ever been to Whole Foods once and was impressed with the selection of goods, but a little stunned by the prices. Then again, specialty grocers will have to create a niche and I think it's one that is underserved here in Hawaii.

Hi MBS,

I couldn't agree with you more. But, I do feel that people here are ready for something like Whole Foods. My hope is that they will stock more local, organically grown produce and provide a high quality alternative to the Safeways and the Foodlands among us.

It won't be for everyone, but I do believe that it makes good business sense for them to enter the market now and in this specific location.