Amazon's planned acquisition of Austin-based Whole Foods is unique in many ways.
Whole Foods is a company that many people in Austin and around the world feel like they truly understand -- even if they don't own stock. They've walked the isles, snacked on the latest health foods and admired or loathed how the grocer operates.
Meanwhile, Whole Foods has been the launch pad for dozens of Austin startups and the grocer has worked with more than 250 Austin food companies. Winning a place on Whole Foods shelves has played a key role for many of Austin's namesake food startups, including Austin Slow Burn, Bearded Brothers, BeeSweet Lemonade, Sway Water and dozens of others.
Perhaps it's no surprise that people in Austin -- and across the nation -- feel like they have something to say about Whole Foods' future. Here's a look at some of the comments, tweets and other reactions to Amazon's proposed acquisition of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.
Kyle Bunch, a managing director of strategy at Austin digital firm R/GA that has worked with Whole Foods in the past, but not currently, said the deal could be a perfect marriage.
"Amazon has best-in-class technology and logistics, but has lacked a major physical footprint and a trusted brand within the world of food," he said via email. "Whole Foods Market has built an amazing brand around food and healthy living, but has lagged behind in terms of technology and integrated physical/digital experience. As Whole Foods’ integrates into the larger Amazon machine (imagine benefits like free Whole Foods delivery for Amazon Prime members) and Amazon brings some of its innovations into the Whole Foods experience (one dreams of an Amazon Go-style experience at Whole Foods, where you never wait in line again, you just walk out and Amazon magic charges you for goods accordingly), this could be one of the most interesting–and disruptive–acquisitions of the last decade."
Heather Brunner, CEO of Austin's WP Engine:
Whoa, this is big!!! @Amazon agrees to buy @WholeFoods for $13.7B https://t.co/WEDiV3rBwV via @MyABJ
— Heather J. Brunner (@heatherjbrunner) June 16, 2017Austin comedian Chistopher Liam put it this way on Twitter:
Does this mean Whole Foods is going to start carrying exercise bikes and butt plugs? Please don't look at my Amazon order history. — Christopher Liam (@HeyChrisLiam) June 16, 2017
Eugene Sepulveda, CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation and a director and partner of Capital Factory:
considering the troglodytes governing Texas, probably best we can do until the enlightenment https://t.co/BCaHyrOYf2 — Eugene Sepulveda (@EugeneAustin) June 16, 2017
Brian Griffey, a mobile app architect for HomeAway, tweeted this:
Whole foods works with a lot of local companies and farmers to provide food. If Amazon can use their power to promote that I’m 100% for it. — Brian Griffey (@briangriffey) June 16, 2017
Mike Berman, senior vice president of communications with the Austin Chamber of Commerce:
“It’s great to hear that Whole Foods, an iconic homegrown company, will remain an integral part of our local community. This game changing announcement is yet another example of the strong creative culture and talent throughout the Austin region that enables innovative businesses to start, grow, and attract a significant level of investment. While this move will hopefully result in more opportunities for Austin, we can’t be complacent. To help Austin remain an attractive job generator, we need to stay focused on recruiting new headquarter companies, building venture capital, and helping small businesses grow.”
John Yarbrough, director of communications at Austin-based BigCommerce:
Potentially a ton of ecommerce expertise coming to Austin as well, which can only help @BigCommerce, @ShipperHQ, @ShipStation and others.
— John Yarbrough (@jyarbrough) June 16, 2017
CNBC's Ari Levy:
Amazon adds $14.3 billion in market value after buying a grocery store for $13.7 billion because Bezos. — Ari Levy (@levynews) June 16, 2017
Craighton Berman, a Chicago designer and illustrator known for successful Kickstarter campaigns:
Self-driving cars delivering boxes selected by drones from warehouses filled with food grown by robots in laboratories #wholefoodsXamazon — Craighton Berman (@craightonberman) June 16, 2017 Jason Fried, CEO of Chicago-based Basecamp, a project management software company in which Bezos has a minority stake, tweet this:
I've long been surprised that grocery stores are organized by item versus by meal. I wonder what Amazon is thinking about. — Jason Fried (@jasonfried) June 16, 2017And this:
And while we are talking about Amazon buying companies, I still think they will buy UPS. Every UPS truck is an Amazon ad.
— Jason Fried (@jasonfried) June 16, 2017
