02
This afternoon I was getting ready to walk to Whole Foods and IMing with science writer and friend Naomi, who relocated from D.C. to Zurich last year. Well, actually, I was deciding what grocery store to go to, and she said, “Whole Foods! because I miss it. take photos.” So, here you go, Naomi.
I realized that I didn’t know what one would miss about Whole Foods. I mean, they have grocery stores in Switzerland. And since it’s Europe, organic and otherwise left-leaning fruits and vegetables are probably pretty common. So, maybe…the Whole Foods font?
With its handwriting-y flair?
Your fellow customers?
Think very, very carefully about your banana purchase, buddy.
The store-brand products?
(Or just the fact that the labels are in English?)
The prepared foods?
Check out that guy, he’s totally eating something.
The very expensive and delicious juice?
Mmmm, Odwalla.
So, I don’t really know what an expat would miss about the grocery store and want to see pictures of. I should probably get specific requests next time. Did this work, Naomi?
Hits the nail on the head. Thanks, Helen!
It may just be the shear size — along with filling a store the size of a warehouse comes a variety of labels, flavors, etc., that are not available here in CH, no matter how big and how much coverage Coop and Migro have (clothes on the second floor, etc.).
I can’t understand why that is. It may just be familiarity with certain products I miss (oh, Peet’s coffee! Oh! Oh, Odwalla, oh!).
Oh, yeah, and the understandability. Yes, definitely: knowing what the labels say can be useful.
As one who has lived in traditional European cities for sometime, I think it’s the welcoming atmosphere of WF that we miss, the rich variety, the decadent mix of flavors that some Swiss or Italians think uncouth – pumpkin cream cheese brioche? Ginger/lime chicken crepe? Horrors.
Well, I’m so glad I could help you out with that! And now I wish I’d taken pictures of a ginger/lime chicken crepe.
I’m kind-of surprised you were allowed to take photos. I once brought my camera to take some photos of food at the coop. I was teaching ESL to someone who really liked to cook and thought it would be a good vocab building tool. But I was quickly whisked to the service desk before I took the first shot – apparently they’re really concerned about competitors taking their ideas….once I explained I wasn’t a competitors’ spy, they let me continue.
Kind-of thought Whole Foods might be equally protective of store layout. It does look good, though, and if it weren’t for WF’s union-busting, anti-health care views (and the lack of said store in my town) I might shop there.
Yeah…I didn’t know if I was allowed or not, so I was kind of subtle about it. I think some employees probably saw me, though.
It’s definitely not allowed at Trader Joe’s–I saw a tribute video some rogue guy did on his iPhone or something. Worth looking up. I’m partial to the store-brand stuff and the short-to-nonexistent waits in the checkout line, but I’d take TJ’s over WF any day. Come to Chengdu, Trader Joe!