The Whole Foods in London Thread

The beer aisle stocks Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams (by the case!!), Anchor Steam and a few other American brewery choices.

Oh FFS, I didn't even go down the beer aisle. How am I going to get a case of Anchor Steam home on the tube and train.

Oh, hang on.... Maybe I can bribe a certain someone who can drive in. In return for a trip to Costco maybe. Hmmmm. 

I made my first pilgrimage to the Whole Foods shop on Kensington High Street -- the first Whole Foods outside of North America.  The first adjective that comes to mind is: WOW!

Whole Foods is a proper American supermarket. Three stories total. The top floor is a giant food court with restaurants serving great sushi, pizza, crepes, seafood, Middle Eastern and other cuisines. There is even a small pub that serves SIERRA NEVADA BEER....ON TAP!!!  You could come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

All the products are billed as organic and natural.  No processed foods here.  The butcher and fishmonger serve the freshest meats I've seen in London. The veg and fruit are all fantastic.  They have quite a few Whole Food brand American foods like peanut butter, cereals, ingredients, pancake mix, syrups, jams and jellies, etc.  The beer aisle stocks Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams (by the case!!), Anchor Steam and a few other American brewery choices.  The extensive wine section has a good selection of California wines.

That said, Whole Foods is expensive. Much moreso than your average Tesco or Sainsburys.  But then, you get what you pay for. 

How much business are they doing?

How much business are they doing?

the place was completely stowed out when we went.

Oh FFS, I didn't even go down the beer aisle. How am I going to get a case of Anchor Steam home on the tube and train.

thats what I was thinking about Sam. 

There is a large news story in the todays Wall Street Journal about Tesco entry into the California/Nevada/Arizona market.
It was interesting because most of you, in the UK, say it is not your first choice for shopping.

We booked cheap tickets (£2 each return) on megatrain from Salisbury to London in August just for a trip to Whole Foods. Sad, I know. But cheaper than a trip back to the US.  

I was a regular Whole Foods shopper when I lived in the states, but I knew my limitations.  Its easy to spend a fortune if you're not careful.

I heard they have a bulk bin section with granola! fingers crossed for wasabi peas!

yes I forgot to mention the bulk bin section. They have everything from cereals to granola to nuts to rice and beans (BLACK beans!). I didn't notice wasabi peas, but then I was not looking for them.

The bartender at the Whole Foods pub told me that business has been so good that they are considering opening new stores elsewhere in the UK.  The store was packed when I was there. I noticed lots of Americans in the food court.

The bartender at the Whole Foods pub told me that business has been so good that they are considering opening new stores elsewhere in the UK.  The store was packed when I was there. I noticed lots of Americans in the food court.

That's been the plan since back in 2004 when they bought out the Fresh & Wild chain. The Kensington flagship Whole Foods is just the beginning!!

As fabulous as I think it is, I do with they'd focus more on local produce. That's my only Whole Foods gripe.

I noticed lots of Americans in the food court.

There are loooooooads of Americans there!! I laughed when I heard the dad tell his son not to touch the loose eggs on display. If I was a kid, I'd want to touch the loose eggs at my eye height level too!!

It was interesting to walk around and look at some of the random stuff that would be very cool to have in my kitchen, but when it came to the shelves and shelves of refrigerated antipasti type stuff I thought, who is really buying this stuff?? Shelves and shelves! Every kind of olive you can imagine, stuffed, unstuffed, whole, chopped, minced... it was amazing! Even the honey selection was mind blowing... which part of the globe do you want? Northern hemisphere, southern? England, New Zealand, Chile...? what flower? lavender, orange...? Comb, cloudy, clear?? Choice is nice, but wow!!!

I went Friday night just before they closed and I was surprised that they don't even discount the hot/cold self serve food. Just made me think... so where does this go and wow that is pretty money grubbing to charge full price for rice/meatloaf/pasta salad/samosas/naan/etc that have been sitting out for who knows how long?!

We booked cheap tickets (£2 each return) on megatrain from Salisbury to London in August just for a trip to Whole Foods. Sad, I know. But cheaper than a trip back to the US.  

You've inspired us to do the same! We can't afford a summer holiday so we're doing a day in London with a trip to WF as a highlight!!

There are loooooooads of Americans there!! I laughed when I heard the dad tell his son not to touch the loose eggs on display. If I was a kid, I'd want to touch the loose eggs at my eye height level too!!

Did you see the ostrich & rhea eggs?  I was a dork, and photographed them.   

Did you see the ostrich & rhea eggs?  I was a dork, and photographed them.   

oooo, busted!! No photography allowed!! Didn't you see the sign as you entered? 

I would have enjoying snapping a few pictures at some of the displays. I was amazed at the huge display of canned baked beans just near the eggs and a canned tuna display... not to mention the apples and random other fruit.

oooo, busted!! No photography allowed!! Didn't you see the sign as you entered? 

Are you serious?!?! That's really funny!! 

Are you serious?!?! That's really funny!! 

Yes. 

You've inspired us to do the same! We can't afford a summer holiday so we're doing a day in London with a trip to WF as a highlight!!

Hahaha.  Excellent!   I'm sure you'll have a super fun day out.  My DH is a little worried that I'm going to blow my entire pay check and we'll have to carry bags and bags of stuff back on the train.  I've promised to be good.  But if they carry 365 Black Cherry soda, he'll be the one hauling back tons of stuff.