I take back most of my biting comments on Wholefoods. It is now up and running and irresistible. Last night I went and was seduced into spending a small fortune. At 6pm it was as packed as Primark.
It is entirely possible to do one’s entire “weekly shop” here providing you bring a pack of sherpas to help carry your groceries and own a black Amex. No parking, no delivery service (until September and then mystifyingly only in W8) and overly perky American check-out assistants who are blessed with a near-religious sense of commitment to the company. The choice of goods on offer is truly awesome. 15 types of tomatoes, mix-your-own-granola bars, bagels, cookies, sushi bars, tubs of fruit, mountains of cheese, every imaginable pulse, a trough of pic-and-mix olives, seed and nut, towers of freshly-spritzed vegetables, alternative medicines, beauty products, yoga clothes, baby food, sweets….
Interestingly my goods were all packed into plastic bags “because they actually recycle better than paper” according to Nick at check-out. “And what about all the food that doesn’t sell?” I asked. “What happens to the excess food?” “You mean the displayability items?” asked Nick looking momentarily confused. (I love the way Americans invent insane new words). ” We have a homeless programme in place.” Thank God. I think I may be shortly joining the programme myself if I continue haemorrhaging money the way I did last night.
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