In case you somehow haven’t yet heard the news, on Friday morning it was reported that Amazon is going to spend in the market of $14 billion dollars to buy out Whole Foods. What this means for the future of the company known for over-the-top, ridiculous indulgences such as “asparagus water” and pre-peeled oranges remains to be seen, but given the current state of Whole Foods sales, there are likely big changes on the horizon.
While this could mean getting your asparagus water delivered to your front door (a service which is actually already provided by the rival startup Instacart, putting that partnership in jeopardy), Bloomberg reports that the deal actually has more to do with Amazon looking to acquire a distribution network for groceries. Either way, this news comes hot on the heels of Amazon setting their sights on Walmart’s customers by providing Prime discounts to low-income families, so the company clearly has something up its sleeve.
Regardless, with the grocery chain’s reputation for overpriced extravagance already in decline, people are not exactly mourning the beginning of the end of Whole Foods as we know it. Shortly after the news broke, Twitter exploded with reactions, as “Whole Foods” immediately became the number one trending topic. And the jokes are coming in hard and fast.
Jeff Bezos: "Alexa, buy me something from Whole Foods."
Alexa: "Sure, Jeff. Buying Whole Foods now."
Jeff Bezos: "WHA- ahh go ahead." pic.twitter.com/GuJ2jlAiuU
— Jesal (@JesalTV) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/alex_segura/status/875709108040732672
bread gonna cost 25 dollars if u dont sign up for whole foods prime now. smh
— Tony X (@soIoucity) June 16, 2017
Amazon: We bought Whole Foods!
Amazon's Amazon account: You may also like Trader Joe's, Bristol Farms & Wegmans!
— Gavin Purcell (@gavinpurcell) June 16, 2017
Nice to know I wasn't the only one overcharged by Whole Foods.
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) June 16, 2017
Whole Foods Brass: Our grocery store is not for sale!!
Amazon: We'll give you $13.7 billion dollars.
Whole Foods: pic.twitter.com/JmQ8Mkp3bM— Scott (@ScottInSacto) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/kevinjtidmarsh/status/875712717184786432
I, for one, welcome our new masters, the Whole Foods drones.
— Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/875703185683427329
*checking out at Whole Foods*
"See cashier put a Fire Phone in my bag."
"Hey what's that, I didn't buy that."
"It's free."— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) June 16, 2017
Feel sad for the mom and pop $6 asparagus water sellers that are gonna lose so much of the market share now that Amazon bought Whole Foods.
— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) June 16, 2017
A lot of people also understandably had the same joke:
https://twitter.com/Slade/status/875704865053454336
Amazon buying Whole Foods for $13 billion aka the cost of an average shopping trip at Whole Foods.
— Cher Martinetti (@thecherness) June 16, 2017
Folks,, YOU try going2 Whole Foods and spending less then 18 billion dollars ! Ok @ReillyRick your turn
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/jdgmntlgay/status/875719325654671360
Not sure how Whole Foods is only worth 13.7B when that's how much it costs to get your weekly groceries there.
— LG (@LGhail) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/crushingbort/status/875722695643725824
Amazon to buy Whole Foods for $13 billion. Same price as Whole Foods salmon.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) June 16, 2017