It's not enough for Wal-Mart to dominate grocery aisles, it has to dominate the organic grocery aisles as well. An article from CNNMoney today notes that Wal-Mart has already doubled the amount of organic products on its shelves this year and hopes to become the low-cost leader for all things fresh and healthy.
The article quotes Andrew Wolf, analyst with BB&T Capital Markets, as warning that natural food purveyors like Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Trader Joe's should be wary.
But Wal-Mart shareholders should be happy to see their company move into this high-growth, high-margin business.
Business Week covered this trend in late March with a focus on what organic farmers think of Wal-Mart's plan. (Hint: not that much).
Other posts on Wal-Mart's green push:











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-03-2006 @ 12:45AM
Charmelle Guercio said...
Glad to see Wal Mart taking an interest in stocking organic foods with eventual lower costs. This would be a plus b/c organics are so expensive other places.
Hopefully the Genetically Engineered Corn will all go to making Ethanol for fuel, & perhaps we might get some "real" corn for our tables at an affordable price. Some people don't realize the dangers of the GE'd foods & additives. The truths about one type of GE'd corn, Bt Corn Pollen killing monarch butterflies, was first reported from Austria, & no longer is this kept secret even here in the US. Many people don't realize that butterflies, like bees are very important in pollenation. Natural corn pollen is something one would not worry about when running thru a corn field. However...the Genetically Engineered varieties are a different story, something we should worry about bigtime, even for rare types of cancers.
Two major baby food companies some years ago were shocked when reports came from people (experienced in lab work) who found the DNA of the bacteria used in Genetically Engineering lab made varieties of Soy & Corn...IN the baby foods.
The questions then began to arise whether or not the "toxins" released when bacteria die (the real source of food poisonings) could possibly be present sometimes in the foods also.
When this was made public, Beech Nut Baby Foods made it known that they never did use any GE'd crops in their baby foods.
The 2 major baby food companies however were not about to let Beech Nut get any more of the small corner of the market than they have.
Many people are not aware that the GE'd Phenylalanine (lab made form of a dangerously high level amino acid in Aspartame)is Genetically Engineered with the use of E-Coli.
That E-Coli is also used in the making of lab made newer INSULINS. Some information points to Genetically Engineered Soy being made by splicing the genes of 1. a Petunia 2. soil bacteria & 3. a virus. In light of this macabe food now so widely sold, a choice of REAL organic food at affordable prices would be viewed as a blessing.
5-08-2006 @ 8:11PM
Kelly said...
I'm all for it, but they need to make sure to have available for the customers fresh produce and meat. I will be watching to see what happens.
5-08-2006 @ 8:12PM
Alan Wilcox said...
If the quality is like the rest of their products, no one wins. Boycot Sprawlmart
5-08-2006 @ 8:22PM
celticfury said...
They may be selling oragnic food, however... I wouldn't count on the quality of that food. They went from fresh cut meat, to pre-packaged junk meat. I would rather pay a bit more for quality product.
5-08-2006 @ 8:25PM
Paul said...
SuperWalmart's for the consumers is great.... But they I find don't carry many of the specific products that I can find at my more local stores. Plus I too go to the organic stores and I know it's always really fresh without doubt. They too have given me great deals on things. So I most likely will still go to them anyway as usually Walmart is a bit farther out of the way for things you want fresh so I don't think they will really hurt them after all too much. JMOP.
5-08-2006 @ 8:38PM
P M Fitzpatrick said...
Ilove Walmart& sams.i don't think there is a enough of them.more walmarts please.it's each persons choice, my choice is walmart
5-08-2006 @ 8:41PM
Lorilyn said...
I do prefer organics. But I have to shop for all meat & produce at other stores rather than Walmart. Too many times I have paid for rotten produce (sold in bulk bags) or sorted through piles of old produce to find one that looks "okay". Not to mention the spoiled meat that I have also brought home. I don't have a lot of confidence in their ability to promote organic produce in their stores. Unfortunately, sometimes you just get what you pay for.
5-08-2006 @ 8:41PM
Ashley McKimmy said...
GO WAL-MART! The poor people and elderly need healthy food just as much as the people with money! I LIVE for Wal-Mart and don't shop any other place. It helps me stretch my small Social Security check! Some people are just STUPID! Keep up the good work!
5-08-2006 @ 8:49PM
David Schneider said...
I wish WAL-MART would stop running their corporation in such a manny as to put their competion out of business. I have visited several of their stores and found their prices on items I priced to be higher than their competitors. I would not trust any food items I purchased at WAL-MART to be truly organic. I have purchased only one item from WAL-MART, which at the time they were the only store that carried the item, only to find it later at a competitors store for much less.
5-08-2006 @ 8:59PM
margaret dauzy said...
I rarely shop at Wal-Mart and never buy produce. It is always wilted,slimy, orlooks 'shop-worn'. I find beautiful, fresh produce at my local grocer and/or food co-op for comparable prices. I would never buy meat at Wal-Mart; most of it is packed with some sort of solution that is supposed to preserve it. Who wants that! I buy my meat from my local grocer who has a butcher on site so I know it is fresh.
5-08-2006 @ 9:09PM
Lori Hitchcock said...
I find Walmart excellent for somethings, but food is not one of them, we are very dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. The small grocery businesses are more aware of freshness and higher quality brands, we sometimes complain that the prices are extreme, but it has not changed our shopping habits, we count on the fresh, organic products they provide. We have tried others several times and were always disappointed so will continue our routine.
5-08-2006 @ 9:36PM
May said...
It's going to be hard to ship fresh organic products from China. But i'm sure Wal-Mart will find a way.
5-08-2006 @ 9:36PM
Valarie said...
I used to wk for Walmart, their meat is way too expensive and their fruit is not in good shape. Boycot Walmart as far as food goes!
5-08-2006 @ 10:01PM
Christine said...
I don't shop at Walmart - I'd rather pay more for American made products and keep our economy going. Sure, I love price breaks and cheap prices but in the long run what good does it do my country, my neighbors, my friends or my family if we can't sustain our own country. I've recently switched to organics and would not trust the quality from Walmart. WALMART IS ALL ABOUT PROFIT not the good of mankind.
5-08-2006 @ 10:10PM
Gerard Noteboom said...
The comments I read ranged from negative to positive, yet all were rated as "0 STAR".Why ?
5-08-2006 @ 10:15PM
Tom Navratil said...
I hope the woman who "LIVES' for Wal-Mart can get her Social Security check paid for by Chinese and Indonesian workers. Wal-Mart has put innumerable US companies out of business. As this continues, who will support her? Certainly not the Walton family.
I am one of the "stupid" ones who refuse tho shop there. I firmly support out local grocers.
5-08-2006 @ 10:26PM
Rex Morley said...
What is it with people, are they refuseing to see what Walmart is doing, trying to become the worlds market by forcing price reductions on their suppliers so they can get people to buy. Don't people realize thats a major contributing factory in "Outsourceing" and loss of jobs in the USA and increasingly inferior products, and only leads to more poor / welfare people who in turn buy at the store that put them there because of price reduction?
Sam Walton ain't here no more, and Walmarts Business model has changed to the greedy side.
Thats also one of the reasons we see watermelon from brazil, grapes from south america, corn from other countries sitting on our grocer shelves and our small famers / ranchers dairy producers selling out to conglomerates because they can't compete at a $2.50 an hour wage or less and provide for their familys too.
The poor will get poorer, and more and more people will end up poor under Walmarts cheap prices, then who will pay the bills of America and our kids and their children.
5-08-2006 @ 10:27PM
Russ McMillen said...
Wal-Mart always comes out on top not the customers.
Everything Wal-Mart does is for thier bottom line
even at the expence of its customers.
5-08-2006 @ 10:29PM
Cathy said...
I work at Wal-mart have been there for 14 years. I work at a great store. Our produce is good looking and like anywhere else you may find something bruised or rotten every now and then but who is perfect.I hear so many complaints from people, but they still shop with us so we must be doing something right. Maybe you are shopping at the wrong Wal-mart, or have you brought that to someone attention that can fixed the problem with the fruits and vegetables. Most likey not easier to just complain that try to fix the problem. I work for a good company. But not everyone will always agree ,so be it....
5-08-2006 @ 10:34PM
calvin said...
I shop at wal mart all of the time and I think that wal mart has the products from electronics and auto care to food and clothing . Another thing that I like about wal mart is that they have the lowest prices and the best selection of items anywhere . Wal Mart also provides a good , relaxing shopping environment .