Some interesting observations on the downturn in luxury grocery shopping in what I call "organic boutique" grocery stores like Whole Foods, by LA Times blogger Matthew DeBord:
A scientist would point out that the body doesn't care what you're feeding it, so long as it's nourishing. When times are tough, that means the value-pack bag of frozen chicken thighs wins and the vegetarian-fed, free-range whole fryer does not. Virtue is a funny thing: It has a hard time competing with an empty stomach. Or an empty wallet.
Whole Foods stock is down 30% of late, mainly because shoppers are turning to less expensive sources for organic and non organic products. Personally, I'm a big fan of Sprouts, but they don't have much national exposure yet.
