Whole Foods Market: whole lot of loss

Fresh & Wild Ltd, the UK unit of Whole Foods Market, has posted sales of GBP35.9m for the year to September 30, 2007, an increase of 18.5%. However, it also reported a loss of GBP9.9m and, although the GBP2.9m cost of opening a store in Kensington, London, partially accounted for the fall in profitability, it does bring into question the viability of operating a large-scale luxury food concept.

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Whole Foods Market: over here and over priced?

The impact of the global natural and organic retailing champion on British grocery retailing can be felt across the capital already, with Waitrose announcing the launch of its first upmarket food store in Marylebone. Despite an unrivalled organic and natural product offer in the UK, Whole Foods' long term prospects are questionable.

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Whole Foods Market: organic growth

While the performance of America's mainstream supermarkets continues to languish, year-on-year sales at Whole Foods Market have been growing at a double-digit rate since 1998. However, the strength of Whole Foods' organic home market is attracting intense competition - which will increase the pressure on the company to cut costs.

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Whole Foods Market: adaptability will be key to London success

It has been reported that Whole Foods Market is in discussions with British Land about opening a site in its 201 Bishopsgate and Broadgate Tower complex - a new office development that includes retail space. If Whole Foods Market was to open an outlet here, the retailer's ability to adapt its format to the location would be the key to its success.

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Who is the 'greenest' grocer of them all?

While price and range will remain the key determinants of consumer loyalty at UK supermarkets, grocers are increasingly keen to display their green credentials to increase customer loyalty. An added advantage of being green is that it could help grocers win concessions in the ongoing Competition Commission grocery market inquiry.

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Whitbread: red in the face

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Whitbread: more units could be for the chop

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Wetherspoon/Yates: fighting for the bargain basement

Yates plans to target cost-conscious consumers with aggressive discounting in its quiet afternoon and early evening periods. While the cheap drink, cheap food, no frills approach is continuing to work well for JD Wetherspoon and should improve Yates' sales to some degree, it may not be the best tactic to turn around the struggling group's fortunes.

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Wendy's: PETA breaks through

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Wendy's: new Latin flavor

The number three burger chain will hike media spending by 30%, specifically targeting kids, families, Hispanics, and the late-night market. Wendy's chances of taking share from McDonald's and Burger King could be strong - but to refine its value proposition and stay in Wall Street's good books, it will need to track returns on the media initiatives carefully.

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