Annually Following Amazon acquisition, Whole Foods deals Using centralization and layoffs

The Whole Foods location in South Lake Union, only blocks from Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, had a slightly different look on Monday. (GeekWire photograph / Taylor Soper) A year after its blockbuster acquisition of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, Amazon is vibration up in the way the organic grocery store is conducted. A brand new efficiency-first ideology signifies increased centralization for your Austin, Tex.-based grocery series — and the layoffs that come with it. According to The Wall Street Journal, Whole Foods is setting off tens of thousands of in-store marketing workers. They were in control of drawing out the recognizable chalkboard signs, in addition to organizing local events in an effort to connect Whole Foods stores with the communities that they serve. These layoffs are a sign of a larger push for centralization at Whole Foods. A growing number of decisions, such as purchasing and finance, are being created at the headquarters in Austin instead of at individual stores. According to The Wall Street Journal, Whole Foods executives state centralization will improve efficiency and help you save money. The Journal also said that hundreds of layoffs have resulted in calls for unionization over the organization.  Whole Foods did not instantly respond to GeekWire’s request for comment on those claims. In March, dozens of Whole Foods executives and senior directors reportedly left the corporation. The turnover has been stated to have caused concern among suppliers and employees about Whole Foods losing its identity because it continues to incorporate with Amazon. Matters altered in the supply chain, too. Even the Wall Street Journal explained providers were angered by the greater rates Whole Foods billed them to sell goods. Whole Foods now charges at least a three percent fee to restock items and conduct promotions for providers who market $300,000 worth of merchandise annually. This includes stress from providers about centralizing merchandising decisions, which could provide Amazon more control on Whole Foods. Local brands may also disappear from Whole Foods shelves. Centralization is not the only thing Amazon has shifted at Whole Foods since the 2 companies incorporate. On precisely the exact same day the sale closed in 2017, Amazon slashed prices on some items, started supplying Whole Foods items on its own website, and purchasing Amazon hardware such as Echo speakers in-store. Other adjustments came within the calendar year, with reductions for Amazon Prime members among them.

The post Annually Following Amazon acquisition, Whole Foods deals Using centralization and layoffs appeared first on Retailnewsfeed.com.

#amazon