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March 09, 2005
Whole Foods' new flagship church
USA Today explains how Whole Foods is unveiling an updated store concept that seems strategically designed to generate word of mouth and evangelism.
Pleasure is woven into every crevice of the new flagship store. Such as the guy who hawks fresh hot doughnuts — with no artificial ingredients, of course. A walk-in beer cooler (bring your mittens) and 800 kinds of beer. And 14 pastry chefs — any of whom will be happy to whip up a baked Alaska on the spot.
The lighting for the produce is the kind used in art galleries. The music is classical. Walk by the hot nut section and special fans waft that tummy-teasing smell of roasting nuts your way. The store signs and displays aren't plastic and particle board but a more eco-friendly, woodlike product made from wheat straw.
Whole Foods fully understands its organic products and the store experience are the marketing. It all ties in to an easily understood theology shared among employees and customers. CEO John Mackey says, "We're not a religion. We're not a cult."
Perhaps that's his PR cover, but Whole Foods is a religion, and its evangelistic true believers (including me) see Whole Foods as the Apple of supermarket retailing, just as polarizing as that company is to Microsoft.
Other blogs that reference Whole Foods' new flagship church:
» Make Me Whole from Confessions of a Brand Evangelist
So Whole Foods walks on water as far as I'm concerned. [Read More]
