Struggling Whole Foods Pushes Cheaper Image

Expanding into suburban markets is working out well for organic grocer

(NEWSER) - Whole Foods wants you to know—or, at least, believe—that you won't go broke by shopping there. The upscale grocer is expanding beyond its traditional urban haunts into suburban markets, and in the process trying to shed the reputation that earned it the nickname "Whole Paycheck," the Wall Street Journal reports. The chain is offering more price promotions and discounts, and, despite rising costs, is even keeping prices on many items flat. More»

40% of receipts tested were slathered with bisphenol A

(NEWSER) - Sheesh: The same toxic chemical—bisphenol A—that's shown up in baby bottles and canned goods is apparently also all over the receipts you get from stores and restaurants, and in much greater amounts. BPA was found in the coating used on cash register receipts in 40% of businesses tested, including McDonald's, Whole Foods, and Wal-Mart. It comes off on your hands, a scientist tells AOL News , and can get into your bloodstream through your skin. More»

No meat for John Mackey; no unions, either

(NEWSER) - John Mackey is a libertarian, an adherent of Ayn Rand, a skeptic about climate change, a vegan, and the CEO of Whole Foods. The company does $8 billion in annual sales, but Mackey flies commercial and drives a Civic hybrid. Nick Paumgarten investigates this walking contradiction, described by a business associate as "the guy who, at these sort of inflection points that every business faces, seems to show up with ideas that are original and thoughtful and attuned to the moment." More»

Hard-times staples fall by the wayside

(NEWSER) - The current economic crisis is breaking the recessionary mold, Time reports, with American purchases running counter to expectations. A few surprises:

• Soup isn’t selling. Typically, the cheap, decent food is a recession staple, but health concerns and rising prices may be driving us away from it.
• Organic food sales are growing. Despite the costs, consumers want to do right by their bodies “perhaps to feel better about themselves,” writes Dan Kadlec.

Restaurants take hit as customers opt for cheaper grub

(NEWSER) - Cash-conscious consumers who’d rather not cook are increasingly ditching restaurant dinners in favor of grocery stores’ prepared meals, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. At some stores, prepared-food sales have jumped 7% to 10%, says an industry consultant. For their part, supermarkets are hawking a bigger and better selection of such offerings. “We're saying, 'We're cooking so you don't have to,'” says a supermarket exec. More»