I go to WF’s bakery. It’s outstanding, as is its selection/quality of breads.
My family has been long time Amazon and Whole Foods customers. We also have prime. That said, we are not at all happy with the changes that Amazon is making at Whole Foods, including taking out lots of local products and replacing them with mass produced ones. We are trying to find another place to shop. Furthermore, the employees have gone from friendly, happy and helpful to anything but…
^ @MamaBear16 - I have noticed the same thing. After reading this thread earlier today, I resolved to make a mental note of the differences when I made a trip to my local Whole Foods this afternoon. Still lots of prepared foods but those are big sellers in my neighborhood. I did notice a lot less of the locally sourced products. As a matter of fact, there seems to be less product in general. Pre Amazon, it seemed like there were displays set up everywhere which is not the case now. Prices on some items were lower than I expected - definitely lower than local supermarkets and in a few cases lower than Trader Joes. And I get @STEM2017 's point about the blue Prime signs. Kind of obnoxious to the non-Prime shoppers who have been supporting the store for a long time. For me, the Jury’s still out…
I think some of the changes are needed for longterm sustainability of the stores. I’ve never spent the bulk of my grocery $ at Whole Foods. Too much $. That’s been a problem for them and, before Amazon bought them, Whole Foods was facing more competition as everyone else was jumping on the organic game and WH was losing market share and less profitable (stock was doing crappy). I actually find myself shopping there more now. Prices are better now.
My local WH does a huge business. People really clamor for the prepared foods (I don’t). I like their fruit especially their mangos and pineapple which are tastier than the ones at other grocers.
Agree some prices are noticeably lower. When I went yesterday, they did have one creamer I like, but the other was only in half gallons, sigh. Standing there, I thought of this thread and almost counted thenumber of vegan cheese choices, lol.
And of course, after WF, I had to go a few blocks to my local market. Formerly independent, it was bought by a regional big chain and prices there are dropping with their influence. (This store always had good organics and competed with the WF. Now they’ve introduced many of the chain’s organic boxed/frozen items, which have always been good and lower cost.)
Whole Foods just opened in my town. I never understood the hoopla associated with it. In the hyped news stories written to correspond with their grand opening, they stressed they are buying their produce locally. So am I. This is primarily an Amish farming community, and I can buy local produce at numerous roadside stands and farmer’s markets. Quality is great and prices are very reasonable. Why would I go to a store that is a dozen traffic lights away, on a congested highway, and is probably always busy? Even off season we have great farmer’s markets that have better produce than the local grocery stores.
Not a bread lover, and we have a great source for seafood, which are two other reasons I’ve heard one needs to shop at WF.
We are the only humans left on earth who are not Amazon Prime members.
I only occasionally shop at WF. I did notice the soap I used to buy there seems gone.
@FlyMeToTheMoon – it’s great that you have access to quality organic foods. Many Americans didn’t until WF came along. That’s why it became so big. And that’s why today it’s less impressive: because other stores followed their suit and started offering WF’s types products, for less.
I’m not a big WF fan, but I appreciate it for raising awareness and quality – forcing supermarkets to up their game too.
@katliamom, that’s why I’m perplexed by the people from my area waiting in line from 4:30 am for the 9:00 am grand opening!
@FlyMeToTheMoon I would be too! Shocked, in fact 
Unless they were giving out bags of groceries or $20 coupons. Lol.
Or maybe it’s a little PR spin.
I don’t know what it was, but it sure was s big deal. Our local newspaper had live cameras there and were interviewing shoppers. I watched a little bit to see what others are attracted to, but soon became bored.
@ImSandraDee wrote:
There’s a quick way to get off that leash. Remember the song 876-5309? So do lots of other people who listened to music in the 80’s. I heard a rumor that you could use that number, plus the local area code, for just about any card loyalty program and someone has already set up an account for it. Easy way to get the sale price without sacrificing personal data. Great way to foil the data gatherers.
I tried it once at a Safeway gas station far from home and it worked! Even better, the name on the account was Tommy Tutone - the name of the band for that song. Thanks for the gas discount, Tommy!
Originally 867-5309.
"So am I. This is primarily an Amish farming community, and I can buy local produce at numerous roadside stands and farmer’s markets. "
As @katliamom mentioned, not everyone does. The Amish farming community and its proximity is one reason Philly has so many great restaurants.
I think a lot of people go because of the prepared food options. Not my interest but that is what is super popular at my local WH.
@lookingforward - yes! Thanks for fixing my typo. The wrong number will likely get you no where (and no Jenny either).