RIP Native Sun

[pierre]

Pushed out by chains, they say. That is too bad. I enjoyed the Baymeadows store when I lived in the area.

https://news.wjct.org/post/native-sun-natural-foods-market-going-out-business-all-3-locations-will-close

A Jacksonville organic and natural grocery store chain will be closing its doors for good after more than 20 years.


Native Sun Natural Foods Market owner Aaron Gottlieb said Tuesday he and his wife are calling it quits as an increasing number of competitors have entered the Jacksonville marketplace in recent years.

"Due to the dramatic increase in the number of grocery stores in the Jacksonville area (nine new specialty grocers alone since 2015), Native Sun Natural Foods Markets will be closing our doors," Gottlieb said in a statement emailed to WJCT News

[Tacachale]

A real loss to the city.

[jaxlongtimer]

Sad, indeed.  Good local people at Native Sun.

I really don't understand how all the chains will survive either.  You have Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Sprouts, Luckys, etc. plus Publix and its Greenwise stores, Winn Dixie, Walmart, Aldi, Trader Joes, Costco, etc.  Then there are the local or niche locations such as Lakeshore Produce, Jacksonville Farmers Market, Freshfields, Grassroots Natural Market, etc.  Add the potential threat of the internet.

Organic and natural foods are fine but they sell at premium prices.  How many people out there will pay those premiums when they are struggling to make ends meet most of the time?  Something has to give.  If not now, when the next recession arrives.

The irony is it seems people eat out more than ever so I am trying to figure out where all those people are that are cooking at home .

[Steve]

So, here's my take (and keep in mind while the grocery sector isn't my specialty, understanding the retail environment both in brick and mortar and ecomm worlds is actually part of my day job):

On one hand, I never think a lot of the "competition doomed us". Native Sun, effectively, was here first (granted on a local scale but they were). Plenty of regional grocery chains have lost market share and couldn't make it - remember Harris Teeter? Plus, look at what's going on at Southeastern Grocers - they were the dominant supermarket for decades and now are the "other" guys compared to Publix. Obviously specialty grocers like Native Sun, Whole Foods, etc. are a niche market but the example remains. Lastly, look at Best Buy: In 2011-2012 everyone had them left for dead thinking they would just be swallowed up by Amazon and they'd go the route of Circuit City and Sound Advice. But then something interesting happened: They decided they didn't want that to be their fate and they put together a plan. Now...Best Buy has had a great resurgence and is one of the poster children for taking on Amazon.

On the other hand, the "You've Got Mail" scenario is legit (small shop swallowed up by the Goliath-style Big Chain). It is real and I get it. No one truly understand the exact formula to beat the big boys every time (each industry and scenario is different). But, there are examples: We see places where the small pharmacy is able to survive against Walgreens. We see the independent shop that competes against Amazon. It happens and it's doable.

So, while I wouldn't consider myself a Native Sun customer I'm sad to see them go. Choice is a hallmark of retail so less choice doesn't benefit the consumer.