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Comment by anilshanbhag | Hacker News Reader

I still fail to understand why people shop at Whole Foods. Whole foods store are smaller, have lesser choices and are significantly more expensive. Every grocery store sells organic food. Even with 10% discount, their prices will be higher than Trader Joe's / Star / Kroger.

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It’s a good question (Sorry you’re getting downvotes).

I’ve shopped almost exclusively at WF now for about 6 years. In those six years I’ve lived in four separate locations, and in all but one the WF was within walking distance of my home. My current home has one about .5 mike away.

So, proximity is a nice factor for me. Then once I’m inside, the quality of the fruits and vegetables is noticeable. I don’t go out of my way to buy organic (not a priority for me), so the prices can be quite reasonable. I find that I can get an extra day or two of refrigeration with whatever I buy at WF, which saves me a trip compared to buying from, say, Star Market or Ralph’s.

Next up is their pre made deli counter. I absolutely LOVE their selection of ready to reheat / deli selections like their rosemary chicken, or tuna / chicken salad. They are pricey by the pound, but when I tried out the other supermarket near by which had cheaper options, the quality and taste weren’t even close.

Also, for additional context, I’m the primary cook in the family. When I quit my job to start my startup 1.5 years ago I started cooking to help save money. I make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my wife and myself 6 days a week. So, I’m definitely a “frequent flier” with my WF.

Here are 3 reasons:

- Some items at WF aren’t at a standard grocery store

- Excellent, vast selection of cold / hot ready to eat food

- Locations

Let me throw in their excellent cheese selection.

All grocery stores sell what you refer to as organic food (what I would call organic and health foods). Whole Foods carries more of them than a typical grocery store like Kroger.

There are products available at one and not the other, which is why I at least sometimes shop there.

Some people (not me) want to avoid certain types of foods. Every item in the store is free of "any hydrogenated fats or artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or preservatives" (https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/organic-...).

If those specific things are important to you, WF offers two advantages:

(1) Wider selection because everything in the entire store meets your criteria.

(2) It's way less tedious than going to a regular store and checking the labels of every single item.

I find the produce at Whole Foods significantly better. If I buy oranges, tomatoes, apples, peaches, berries, etc at other stores including those you mentioned they are often flavorless and seem to lack juice. It’s as if they are picked when unripe and treated with ripening agents https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripening

I've been to a few whole foods and I agree. I might shop at one if it were my only option - for instance if I lived near one. Now that Amazon owns it, however...

While I agree with smaller and less choice, WF is the same or cheaper than other local decent grocery stores for food staples like produce, meat, cheese, even beer and wine. It doesn't compete with Walmart price wise, but the perishables at Walmart are always terrible.

It really depends where you live, I have lived in several cities/neighborhoods where whole foods was the largest grocery store nearby.

Agree. I shop at the world HQ here in Austin, and even it has not sated my longing for the Wegmans of my homeland.

The local WF is right between two Wegmans where I live and there's no comparison. Wegmans is probably the single most impressive grocer I've ever encountered.

I went to a wedding in Williamsport, PA last summer and ended up at a Wegman's. Amazing grocery store. Would love to see one here in NH.

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