Upscale Whole Foods prospers in the midst of the economic downturn

Challenging all the gloomy forecast a year ago, Whole Foods' stock and sales are booming in spite of the global and US consumer downturn.

WF sales growth has outpaced Wal Mart and other low-price grocers, in spite of being up to 30% more expensive.

Consumers seem increasingly concerned with quality and health, even if they come at a higher price.

Advocates of reducing US healthcare cost coincide in finding prevention the best if not the onbly way to reduce HC cost at the time that the largest postwar generation -the baby boomers- reaches middle and retirement age -"payback time" for unhealthy diets and habits-.

• What lessons can we extract from Whole Foods success?
• How can we apply them to our PII projects?