Cincinnati-area shoppers now have a third Whole Foods store to shop at.
The new location in Kenwood Collection next to the Kenwood Towne Center will offer thousands of organic and healthy options, but will it still have its reputation for consuming your whole paycheck? Two new surveys say that may be changing.
Team leader Eric Knapke gave us a tour of the new store, which is bigger and more spacious than its Deerfield Township and Rookwood stores, with lots more grab-and-go options.
"It's open, it's airy, low-profile," Knapke said. "You'll see a lot of this store from the minute you walk in the door."
You'll find an expanded cheese section, an in-house cake baking shop, lots of wine and craft beer and plenty of organic vegetables.
What about prices?
Customers such as Kiana Avery, who we found shopping the Rookwood store in Norwood, said they've seen a price improvement in the past two years.
"Since Amazon bought them, being an Amazon Prime member definitely helps," Avery said
Whole Foods is really making an effort to change that reputation for higher prices.
For instance, if you are an Amazon Prime customer like Avery, you'll find signs all over the store with specific deals for Amazon customers.
"You'll see blue dots around the store that highlight Prime member deals," Knapke said. "You'll also save an additional 10% on yellow-tagged items in the store."
A CNBC report this week claims Whole Foods prices are down 2.5% from exactly one year ago.
In the meantime, a Business Insider price check this spring found it's still 4% more expensive than Kroger but said Whole Foods has narrowed the gap from those days when shoppers called it "whole wallet."
You'll find Whole Foods in the Kenwood Collection next to the Kenwood Towne Center — ironically, where a Kroger store stood ten years ago.
As always, don't waste your money.
____________________________
Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Like" John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
