Stephanie Fierman - Marketing Observations Grown Daily

Stephanie Fierman Thinks Seafood And Thanksgiving Don’t Mix

Wednesday November 19th 2008, 9:55 am
Filed under: stephanie fierman

Is Whole Foods for real? Even those who don’t read the papers would probably assume that a retailer commonly known as “Whole Paycheck” might be feeling the economic crunch… but are their snow hats on too tight, as well?

The company has announced “Shrimpsgiving” just in time for the slightly better-known Thanksgiving holiday. Founded on the “little-known fact” that the Pilgrims and Indians ate seafood alongside their turkey, Whole Foods is highlighting $8.99 shrimp from Thailand and numerous recipes and “time savers for holiday hosts trying to appease hungry families.”

The Pilgrims played marbles with cherry pits and died of scurvy due to a lack of fruits and vegetables, too… but you don’t see anyone adopting those habits anytime soon.

This is going to be a very bad holiday season. Families are cutting back and Thanksgiving will not be immune. Wal-Mart has just announced that it is selling all the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal for eight for $35 (including a 12 pound turkey and two bottles of wine…). This is not the year that people are going to experiment and it’s likely that hosts already have plans for any guests who don’t do the turkey thing.

Whole Paycheck squandered an opportunity to generate some meaningful goodwill at a time when everyone could sorely use it. Forget about selling exotic shrimp from Thailand. If you really want to “appease hungry families,” call some terrified food banks and feed thousands who will have no Thanksgiving this year without you.

Whole Foods Whole Paycheck