Amazon Whole Foods and the Shopping Experience
Amazon Whole Foods and the Shopping Experience Theres already been a lot written about Amazons offer to buy Whole Foods, and what it means for the retail industry. The LA Times says its all about home delivery of groceries (link) and the NY Times focused on efficiency (link). Ben Thompson wrote an excellent analysis pointing out the logistical advantages for Amazon of buying a food distribution network along with the stores that give it critical mass (link). The article is worth reading if you havent done so already. I dont disagree with any of the above, but I find myself thinking back on a conversation I had recently with a former Amazon employee, and I wonder if there might not be a second motivation for the purchase, focused on what Amazon can learn from Whole Foods rather than what the company does for Amazons infrastructure. The former Amazonian I spoke with was very careful not to discuss company confidential information, but he was happy to talk about the companys philosophy,...
