> Half of the zip codes with Whole Foods stores lie above $72,000 in
> average income. A fourth of them exceed $100,000. (Stan Cox, "Natural
> Food, Unnatural Prices," AlterNet, 25 January 2006,
> <http://www.alternet.org/story/31260/>)</blockquote>
>
> That said, ordinary supermarkets nowadays also have organic foods
> corners, as well as ethnic food aisles, where I can obtain soba, udon,
> and suchlike without going to ethnic food stores.
I believe that Whole Foods sees other grocery stores as its competition, not the remaining natural fods stores.
Here in Kansas City, you can find organic food, ethnic and vegetarian items in most of the mid-level to large grocery stores. If I buy food, it's usually from a local Hy-Vee or Price Chopper. I rarely set foot in a Whole Foods and I only visit Wild Oats to buy nutritional yeast. The last time I set foot in a Wal-mart was last April, when I had to buy some quilting pins after midnight for an art show that I was preparing.
I've got a Hen House store near me with a large kosher section and there is the Dean and Deluca across the street (never go there). One of the awesome things about Kansas City is that we have dozens of farmers' markets, several CSA programs, and plenty of local farms that run u-pick-em services. Kansas City also has a full range of ethnic grocery stores, but you have to do lots of driving to make use of them.
KC doesn't have any natural food stores or co-ops left. The one on Main St. was bought by Wild Oats and the Local Harvest chain went out of business last year.
Has anybody in this thread pointed out that there are more than a few working class people who do shop at chains like Whole Foods? From what I've heard, these folks "treat" themselves to food at Whole Foods. They don't do their weekly shopping there, but they buy stuff once in a while, kind of like they are visiting a nice restaurant.
And then there are the scores of young people who shoplift at Whole Foods on a regular basis. ;-)
Chuck