We don't need to be anecdotal about it, we have data.
2015 sales: $15.389 billion
2016 sales: $15.724 billion
Their business growth has stopped. In fact, it's that negative turn (in regards to the perception of WFM as a growth machine) that halved their stock, which led to Amazon acquiring them.
To make matters worse for the company, their net income had been contracting for years.
2014: $579m net income
2015: $536m net income
2016: $507m net income
Amazon will hack that down further, basically taking WFM where it was already going as their margins were eroding for years.
What was it that Jeff said? "Your margin is my opportunity" I believe. Anyone who hoped to see WF as a profit center aught find a new past time.
But yes, this was a company that found a niche, grew into it and could go elsewhere. Amazon will presumably change that, though in the end I doubt WF will be recognizable.
2015 sales: $15.389 billion
2016 sales: $15.724 billion
Their business growth has stopped. In fact, it's that negative turn (in regards to the perception of WFM as a growth machine) that halved their stock, which led to Amazon acquiring them.
To make matters worse for the company, their net income had been contracting for years.
2014: $579m net income
2015: $536m net income
2016: $507m net income
Amazon will hack that down further, basically taking WFM where it was already going as their margins were eroding for years.