There are few stereotypes I like to promote, however living in Texas, there is no denying that we do things big! And in Austin,
The Flagship Whole Foods store is no exception. It is not simply the 80,000 square feet, but the purely experiential aspect of the shopping experience. You can find literally thousands varieties of fruits or vegetables, enjoy dinner at the various food stations all with an impressive spread of prepared food, hang out at the raw food bar, and let us not forget the
fair trade dark chocolate fountain as you peruse through the bakery section (which by the way has literally brought a tear to people's eye.) Don't think that the question of
over consumption does not pass through this socially conscious collective of consumers, it continues to be a question in people's mind.
Michael Pollan, author of
The Omnivore's Dilemma and other skeptics criticize Whole Foods food for using their
commitment to organic and natural products at the expense of local foods, regional producers and
distributers and as a mere marketing ploy. Michael Pollan and John
Mackey (CEO of Whole Foods) have had a lively debate that can be seen on
John Mackey's blog. Regardless, Michael
Pollan agrees that Whole Foods has played an instrumental role in advancing the awareness of the organic movement, and
Austinites agree. Whole Foods is a kind of golden child in Austin, and its customers are a loyal base that support and trust this company's
commitment to supporting the local community and
sustainable and
organic business. Will this
commitment and brand loyalty translate across borders? The
company plans to open its first store in London in June . It will ideally showcase the same focus on cooking demonstrations, product samplings and in-house eateries that mingle thousands of the freshest and finest natural and organic offerings in every area of the store, with a focus on procuring foods from local growers, food artisans and manufacturers. And as they say in Texas, go big or go home! Whole Foods is leaving its nest, and it is up to the London consumers to empower themselves with the tools of
awareness balanced by the convenience and organic shopping experience that Whole Foods is committed to delivering its customers.