The natural foods industry got its start by selling unprocessed foods, cheaply and in bulk, to impoverished hippies. Then Whole Foods Market came along and discovered the real money was in selling upscale wines, meats, cheeses, and chocolates to the well-off.
Now CEO John Mackey is taking Whole Foods back to emphasize, well, whole foods. He says:
There have been these two dominant values driving our products over the years. One is food as health, and the other one is food as indulgence. Those have battled, you might say, for the soul of Whole Foods
The changes Mackey is proposing don’t sound at all like marketing gimmicks. He comes off as being sincerely interested in helping America to discover how to eat in a sane and healthful way. And the fact that Mackey is vegan bodes well for the sorts new offerings we can expect to see over the next year. Link.
