Wild Oats V. Whole Foods

[Robina]

I'm new to this whole celiac thing... and there are absolutely no healthy markets or health food stores nearby... I have to travel an hour to Portland ME to find this... anyway... on my first trip to Portland I went to Wild Oats... but I also noticed there was a Whole Foods market... which one is more gluten free/wheat free friendly as well as less costly... Wild Oats just seemed so expensive...

[KrisT]

I'm new to this whole celiac thing... and there are absolutely no healthy markets or health food stores nearby... I have to travel an hour to Portland ME to find this... anyway... on my first trip to Portland I went to Wild Oats... but I also noticed there was a Whole Foods market... which one is more gluten free/wheat free friendly as well as less costly... Wild Oats just seemed so expensive...

Whole foods has more, but you won't find the prices any better. gluten-free foods are incredibly expensive no matter where you buy them! I have a Wild Oats and a Whole Foods about the same distance from me and I would choose Whole Foods for their selection. They also offer an 11 page gluten-free list of products they carry that you can get at the store or on their website. I don't think Wild Oats makes a list.

[CantEvenEatRice]

We don't have a Wild Oats around here, but I do go to Whole Foods. I am not too impressed with our Whole Foods gluten free selection. Everything gluten free is mixed with everything else so you have to really look. I wish they would make a gluten free aisle. They do have some good gluten free choices, but it could be better. They did recently add gluten free bakery items that can be found in the freezer section. But a lot of the items are loaded with butter and soy. I really like the selection at Wegman's, but I think they are only on the East Coast.

[Nancym]

I've heard "Whole Foods" called "Whole Paycheck". I bet you'll find they're more expensive. But their stuff is very good.

[KrisT]

I've heard "Whole Foods" called "Whole Paycheck". I bet you'll find they're more expensive. But their stuff is very good.

When it comes to the gluten-free products I found Whole foods to be less because they have several gluten-free things that they make themselves. However, I can easily spend over $200 and not fill up the cart!

[tarnalberry]

I was sad to lose Wild Oats in favor of Whole Foods when I moved from SoCal to Seattle. Sure, WF has the gluten-free bakery thing, but most of that stuff has milk, so I can't have it anyway. I preferred Wild Oats selection and prices myself, so I think it's a personal thing. (There are things I could get there that I haven't seen at WF that I miss. )

[cmzirkelbach]

Hannaford's has gluten free choices. Look in their natural section.

[blueeyedmanda]

I have neither store, but I do have the Wegmans and they are only in NY, PA, NJ and recently started to branch off in MD and Virigina. I wish the Whole foods was closer, I want to try the bakery. I hear good things on this board about stuff there.

[mouse]

I personally prefere the friendlyness of Wild Oats and they will order for me anything I want. But, this Friday I have to go to Whole Foods to get my soda (without corn syrup) and Bard's Tale beer. They are not carring the New Grist yet and my Wild Oats does not have either - so far. It is about 30 minutes more driving time for me to go to WF's.

[pinkpei77]

Hannaford's has gluten free choices. Look in their natural section.

i agree! i get most of my stuff at hannaford and only travel to the health food store for a few specialty things..and they are more for me being vegan than gluten-free.

i can easily get all my gluten-free things at hannaford.

i am moving in a few days and will be in a town with a whole foods and a wild oats so i will have to see how they compare.

[KrisT]

I am guessing from a lot of things I have heard from people across the country that other Wild Oats markets must be bigger and better than the one here near Columbus, OH. The one we have here is small and expensive. I've never seen a price difference between it and WF. Are the Wild Oat markets independantly owned? Anyway, our Raisin Rack beats them both hands down and they will order just about anything you ask them to. But Raisin Rack is a local store, only 2 in Ohio.

[AndreaB]

I was sad to lose Wild Oats in favor of Whole Foods when I moved from SoCal to Seattle. Sure, WF has the gluten-free bakery thing, but most of that stuff has milk, so I can't have it anyway. I preferred Wild Oats selection and prices myself, so I think it's a personal thing. (There are things I could get there that I haven't seen at WF that I miss. )

Tiffany,

There is a Wild Oats in Vancouver WA as well as Lingonberries, the gluten free store.

[chgomom]

I go to Wild Oats, in Hinsdale, IL>

They are very friendly, order anything, their staff is very knowledgeable.

Many of the celiac in out area go there...I go so often, because as you know verymuch of what we can eat is easily perishable the stockets have gotten to know me and say sometimes...I would'nt try that yet...or if you ask them....they have good education of their employees. The gluten-free stuff is separate from everything...

(ie they have a whole Isle just for that, and then signs all around the store, they also offer a pamphlet, on whether the products are made in a dedicated facility, have a proven claim as gluten-free or just claim to be gluten-free but not proven)

Anyway I went to Florida and did whole foods. Found a great product and the Whole Foods up my way said they would not order it because of distributor obligations. Even though it was t their store in Florida.

Oh well...what ever is closer....but I like wild oats. But $50 gets not much and its so easy to get out of any of those spedning 200.

[chgomom]

I also just wanted to add, that lets say if you order a case of something

(Like I just ordered a case of Glutino Lemon Wafers, they also have chocolate vanilla....and sooo yummmy) you get 10 to 15% off You call and ask for grocery....and they will take a phone order....

So at 3.99 a piece...12 to a case....47.88 - 10% basically gives them to you tax free....

[Mango04]

OMG where I'm currently living the health food stores are the size of very small 7-11s and the prices are about 4 times higher than Whole Paycheck. If I lived anywhere near a Whole Foods and a Wild Oats I'd go to both everyday! LOL

[TriticusToxicum]

This is al ittle off topic, but I had to ask. Has anybody else seen the car commercial (Ford I think) with a Wild Oats prominently featured in the background? I was like WOW, they do exist (don't have them here). Ok sorry to interrupt. Back to business

edit: I found this it was Mercury. Good article.

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[brizzo]

Wild oats markets in KY have all products clearly labled with a pink tag, right next to the price on the shelf that says "GLUTEN FREE" next to ERERY product in the entire store that is gluten-free. And they are right next to the Regular items and intermingled. You can actually shop like a normal human being. There's no gluten-free isle. That's like a Short school bus ....