Any thoughts on how Amazon's purchase of Whole Foods Market impact farmers?

[farmgal71]

Amazon to Acquire Whole Foods Market


Whole Foods Market ranked #28 and Amazon ranked #2 on Fortune’s 2017 list of World’s Most Admired Companies

SEATTLE & AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 16, 2017-- Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire Whole Foods Market for $42 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $13.7 billion, including Whole Foods Market’s net debt.

“Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “Whole Foods Market has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for nearly four decades – they’re doing an amazing job and we want that to continue.”

“This partnership presents an opportunity to maximize value for Whole Foods Market’s shareholders, while at the same time extending our mission and bringing the highest quality, experience, convenience and innovation to our customers,” said John Mackey, Whole Foods Market co-founder and CEO.

Whole Foods Market will continue to operate stores under the Whole Foods Market brand and source from trusted vendors and partners around the world. John Mackey will remain as CEO of Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market’s headquarters will stay in Austin, Texas.

Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Whole Foods Market's shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close the transaction during the second half of 2017.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

About Whole Foods Market

Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, the first national “Certified Organic” grocer, and uniquely positioned as America’s Healthiest Grocery Store™. In fiscal year 2016, the Company had sales of approximately $16 billion and has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market employs approximately 87,000 team members and has been ranked for 20 consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by Fortune magazine. For more information, please visit www.WholeFoodsMarket.com or @WholeFoods on Twitter.

[parsley]

Amazon has sourced organic foods for decades. Whole Foods has been buying specialty organic foods for years from suppliers. A few years ago they indicated they've wanted to buy a semi of black einkorn weekly, with a three year contract.

Supply keeps growing but so do buyers.

It maximizes profit when inventive farmers collaborate. A loose association. Growing specialty products. Countless unique products. And market together and ship together.

There are so many unique products to grow that I know WF would snatch up but there has to be enough growers along with enough quantity. They buy "ugely"

The world is changing.

And, ladies and gentlemen, it is damned exciting isn't it.

Pars

[danny W1M]

There are definitely people having thoughts about Amazon buying whole Foods.

Grocery store competitors lost share value on Friday alone, of 40 Billion USD.

That should tell you, some people have thoughts about this, especially financial thoughts.
Bezos will likely be the worlds first Trillionare, I think it must be viewed, that the extent of his wealth will allow him to push other companies in that space around, at least for some time.

Another point, his philosophy is organics, imagine if he chose to buy Monsanto(which would be a tiny drop in his bucket) and simply moth ball it, at least the Ag portion, say chemical and seed.

[ajl]

World is changing alright for the wrong reasons. Growth in so called organic produce is due to the fact that many people are getting wealthy through government wealth transfers and that is leading to growth for those who peddle the lie that there produce is somehow superior to that produced using technology. Those of us who's paycheck does not come from government can't afford this luxury.

[parsley]

'Tis a competitive world, AJL. The victimhood sales-pitch doesn't sell a lot of white Wonderbread to the young mobile shopper who is eager and happy to spend more of their budget on food instead of Export A cigarettes.

It's good for farmers when consumers are more than happy 💕to spend more on food. Its a positive thing instead of heading for the bottom! pars

Addendum:
Your buyer is still there. And buys from you. Cheap wheat making cheap bread for people who don't spend much on food. I will presume you and your family support that market because you grow for that market.

Your huge market is intact. It's there for you.

Organic is a small market. Well supported by people who are willing to spend more on their food as well as develop their tastes to include different foods. A different market than your market.! Completely diff outlook, income, and thought process.

[ajl]

Change I am interested in seeing is a return to a free market economy with the shrinkage of government, large scale layoff of government employees and the disappearance of their gold plated pension plans and then I bet that Whole foods markets will wilt like a freshly pulled or sprayed weed. Yes I do buy conventionally raised products myself.

[Oliver88]

Costco stock downgraded today, they are also selling some organic food.

Going by Wholefoods sale of $13.8 billion, organic farming is now "Big Ag".

[parsley]

Jeff Bezos will likely be the world's first trillionaire so many will be asking why he invested in Whole Foods if it is supposedly destined to to be a financial flop.

Or not. Pars

Actually, Saskatchewan could become the choice supplier of premier food if farmers allied, divided the province into custom growing zones by choosing which food grows best in each zone, using agronomists' data.

Voluntary association with each other.

Specialization zones.

Share specialized equipment within the zone.

Share central packaging facility and equipment, using diff time slots.

Book and share shipping containers. GTA

And market jointly.

Wine growers are a resource to consult with.

Meet with Jeff Bezos with the plan and commitment.

And do it.


Amazon's premier suppliers of packaged food. Finished product.

Horseradish
Spices
Berries
Fruit.
Meat
Flours
Etc

Canned goods
Frozen goods.
...
...

...
Pages listing food from field to plate.


We have the best soil.
The best farmers
The best experienced operators .

What's not to like?

As always, Your parsley.