First, let me say that I almost never go to Whole Foods. It’s just not close to where we live or shop. However, today our oldest had a soccer tournament right up the street from the Whole Foods on Wyoming. We were tight on time to grab lunch, so we decided to run into Whole Foods to grab a quick lunch. The place was packed. Now, I don’t think it has anything to do with the CEO’s recent stance on healthcare in the Wall Street Journal:
While we clearly need health-care reform, the last thing our country needs is a massive new health-care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system. Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction—toward less government control and more individual empowerment.
However, it was also seem that threats of the demise of Whole Foods as result of Mr. Mackey speaking his mind also seem to be premature:
Less than two days after the editorial appeared, the protest and boycott group organized on Facebook is up to more than 4,000 members, and pundits seem to be scratching their heads as to whether Mackey’s missive was a bold entrance into a polarizing political debate, or a shortsighted business blunder that will only alienate his customer base. What do you think?
Well, I think that the people that love to shop at Whole Foods regularly will continue to do so, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the stores find a whole new clientele as a result of Mr. Mackey’s refreshing willingness to speak his mind. After all, it’s not like the guy just hired Michael Vick.