Project Update on Whole Foods - North Raleigh

Dear Friends:

With Citizen's Advisory Council meetings behind us, our next hearing is the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Public Hearing on October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, located in the Avery Upchurch Municipal Building, 222 West Hargett Street, Raleigh. Please visit www.bringwholefoods.org or e-mail info@bringwholefoods.org for more information on the meeting.

Your participation is critical to maintaining our momentum. Please attend the October 21 meeting AND bring neighbors and friends that also support this project! We must show the city how strong the community consensus is for us to get the rezoning for the Whole Foods project. We're aiming for a "Standing Room Only" show of support!

A special thank you goes out to our supporters who attended the September 4 North Citizen's Advisory Council meeting. Together we constituted what is believed to be the largest turnout in the history of the North Raleigh CAC in favor of a rezoning case. At the meeting, there was debate regarding whether a vote on our case would be held that evening. I held a "show of hands" vote myself, because it had been clearly stated that the vote would be held at that meeting, and I believed that the rights of those who attended (both supporters and opposition alike) deserved to be protected.

We've since consulted with several city officials to confirm our position. They've communicated that the CAC's stated purpose of soliciting and encouraging public input was fulfilled at the September meeting, and that no further participation in North CAC meetings is required. The overwhelming vote of 99-17 in favor tells the story!

The North CAC may hold another vote on October 2. However, we will not participate in such a vote, and instead will report the tremendous show of support at the September meeting at the Joint meeting on October 21. Of course, you are free to attend the CAC meeting, and we appreciate your support if you do. Please visit the following weblink for information on the meeting (note location change) if you choose to attend.

http://raleighnc.gov/publications/Community_Services/CAC-Agendas/CAC-north-agenda.pdf

THANK YOU again for your commitment to this project and feel free to call me or Paul Muñana at 919.831.4900 with any questions.

Best Regards,

Chris Widmayer

Regency Centers

PS Be sure to revisit the online petition at www.bringwholefoods.org, email the City Councilors and the Mayor with your support, sign the petition if you haven't yet done so and forward it to your friends.. Most importantly, be at the City Council meeting on October 21! CW

Whole Foods survey claims quality trumps price for most shoppers

Rising prices or not, most consumers say they won't compromise on the quality of the food they buy, claimed Whole Foods yesterday, summarizing results of a recent survey it released in an apparent attempt to gain exposure for its stance as a purveyor of "value offerings" as opposed to low-priced goods.

Whole Foods also said its survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, showed that the majority (70 percent) of consumers are still buying the same amount of natural and/or organic foods, regardless of price. The survey found that 67 percent prefer to buy natural and/or organic foods over conventional foods if prices are comparable, the super-natural market leader said.

"It is reassuring to see these results as they confirm we're on the right track in highlighting our value offerings for our customers," said A.C. Gallo, co-president and coo for Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Markets.

Whole Foods said the survey results were similar across geographic locations, despite the varying regional impact of the housing slump and economic downturn.

The survey also found many adults are now preparing more meals at home (43 percent), using more coupons (40 percent), or going out of their way to look for lower-cost items (37 percent) as a result of higher food costs.

The grocer said it also completed a market basket survey the week of Aug. 18 that found Whole Foods Market had "the lowest total price for common pantry items when compared to Albertson's, Wegmans, King Soopers and Kroger in Nevada, Maryland, Colorado and California."

Whole Foods compared non-sale prices for items such as milk, eggs, lettuce, peanut butter, tuna, shells and cheddar and frozen fruit. The average total price for the Whole Foods market basket was $47.04, compared to an average of $55.97 for competitors, it said.

Source: http://www.progressivegrocer.com/

Supporting local growers and vendors

Do you know that when you shop at Whole Foods you are supporting local vendors and growers?

Here are some Whole Foods factoids:

• They empower their individual store and regional buyers to seek out locally grown produce
• They are particularly committed to buying organically, locally grown produce
• Only produce that has traveled less than a day can be labeled "organic"
• They reduce their impact on the environment by requiring less transport when buying locally
• They help local farmers maintain agricultural heritage
• They encourage local farmers to diversify their crops
• Most of the money spent on local production stays within the community

Author: Libby Telford, BringWholeFoods.org
Factoid Source: WholeFoodsMarket.com
Photo: Libby Telford

BringWholeFoods.org Grassroots Committee

The BringWholeFoods.org committee was formed in June of 2008 in an effort to bring a new Whole Foods location into the North Raleigh area. Currently the only Raleigh Whole Foods Market is at Ridgewood Shopping Center (Wade Ave). It is a smaller and more congested location. While the Wade Ave location serves its community well, it is a far reach for the many residents of North Raleigh and surrounding areas that have to go out of their way to get the unique selection of locally grown produce and natural products that they want.

This blog has been created to inform the public and mark the milestones towards rezoning approval for Regency Centers and Welcor Development to go forward with their plans of building at Six Forks & Strickland (Colonnade Center). Rezoning permission is being asked solely for the purpose of having Whole Foods Market as the anchor tenant.

Sign the Petition here > www.BringWholeFoods.org

Author: Libby Telford, BringWholeFoods.org