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Dear Folks
I read through all the eMails both onlist and
offlist. That's 21 as of this evening. My thanks
to all who responded, both pro and con. The laws
of statistics dictate that the average response
rate to a survey is 3-10%, with 10% being an
outstanding response. So I feel safe in assuming
that a goodly number of people have read both my
original post and Shimme's response as well as
possibly responded on their own through email or
direct contact with their local Whole Foods
Market. Sometimes Guerilla Celiac Tactics are the
only way for us to make ourselves heard.
I would like to correct my request that people
contact Shimme as the person responsible for this
chain of events. After talking to our friend at
Whole Foods, it was made clear to me that the
decision was enacted at the national level. The
way to make ourselves heard is to call your local
Whole Foods Store (however local that is, five
miles or 250 miles) and request the email or
mailing address of the Regional Bakery Manager. I
suggest email or written mail so that there will
be a discernable trail of opinion.
I have some more information, as well as a
response to Shimme's email. My response is to
this list... I do not feel that I have a
responsibility to engage in a debate of the
interpretation of corporate-speak with Shimme at
this time. Please jump past my 'snipped' section
of Shimme's email to my comments.
>-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
>From: "Shimme (NA NNY)" <[log in to unmask]>
>(snip)
>Subject: Gluten Free Bakehouse
>Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 13:51:52 +0000
>st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
>
>Hello,
>
>I have gotten a few emails this morning about
>the discontinuation of some of the offerings
>from our Gluten Free Bakehouse. I have a
>feeling a concerned customer has sent my email
>out to a group, so if you wouldn’t mind
>forwarding this email on, I would appreciate it.
>
>The decision to temporarily discontinue some of
>our gluten free items was made by the Bakery
>Group on the national level.
>(snip)
>Sincerely,
>
>Shimme
>
>SHIMME
>
>NORTH ATLANTIC/ NORTHEAST REGIONAL BAKERY DIRECTOR
>
>-905 RIVER RD-EDGEWATER, NJ 07020
>
>'201.941.4000 EXT. 235 7201.941.9576
>
> :<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]
>
My wife spoke to a representative of Whole Foods
today in an effort to clarify the current
situation. I won't name this person as he/she
supports our needs but is not in a position to
set corporate policy. When asked directly, on the
phone, "will these items be discontinued or
brought back into production?" the response was
neither yes nor no. We were only told that these
8 items are discontinued and that there are no
current plans to re-introduce them. Due to
preparations for the holiday season, it would be
May of 2006 at the latest before any brand new
items would appear on the shelves.
In reviewing Shimme's statements it is clear to
me that we are the recipients of a nice bit of
corporate prevarication. His comment that Whole
Foods "will most likely bring some of these items
back in a seasonal nature and possibly tweak some
of the formulas..." bears examination. "Will most
likely", "Seasonal", "Possibly" are not
assertions of any intent to increase the product
line or to re-introduce discontinued products.
Rather it is side-stepping the question. Any
sizable business has to plan ahead for
production. If there are no concrete long term
plans, what does that say to us?
"We thought long and hard about this... our
slowest moving items..." only demonstrates the
poor communication within this company. Many of
the responses to me noted the absence from the
store shelves of these very same items that where
earmarked for discontinuance due to "poor sales".
To sum it up... if you don't market the item, if
you hide it behind a counter or in the freezer,
how can you determine the true sales figure of
any given product line? At two of our local
stores we had the same problem. Items where kept
in the freezer without any note to customers that
this was the policy. When we asked customer
service people, their response was "oh yes, we
keep them in the freezer for freshness" but no
one responded to our comment that if you don't
tell people the items are in the freezer, how can
you sell them?
I must say that I object to Shimme's contention
that in being Vegan, he appreciates the situation
we find ourselves in as Celiacs. His is a
life-style of choice. Ours is a lifestyle of
necessity, dictated to us by a genetic condition
from which we can neither escape nor recover.
Need I say that if Shimme decides one day to eat
something non-vegan, he will not find his celia
damaged? Ok, enough grumbling on that point.
I firmly believe that Whole Foods does not
appreciate the dollar volume that has been
initiated in their stores by people who must buy
gluten-free.
I plan on finding the proper way to contact John
Mackie, the CEO of Whole Foods. I should be able
to come up with either his email or his office
address through a little bit of research this
week. I will post a time limited Petition Letter
to the list once I have this information. This
petition will state, in polite but firm terms,
our dissatisfaction with this decision and
request that Whole Foods re-consider their future
plans in light of this 'hidden' but extensive
market. I'll invite anyone in support of the
Petition to provide their full name. I will not
include email addresses or any other personal
information. Once the Petition is completed, I'll
send it to John Mackie.
Take care
Gary
--
Gary Roberts <[log in to unmask]>
Dedham, MA...Antique tools, Old Books, Art
Pottery, Hong Kong cinema, what else is there?
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