Costco versus Whole Foods

There's been some discussion locally as to who should be at Westgate, Costco or Whole Foods. While I personally feel it is up to the owners of Westgate not us, in doing some research I discovered some information that isn't quite what we are being "sold".

First off Costco is being touted as union/pro-union. Truth of the matter is only 18% of Costco employees belong to a union. Whole Foods had it's first store unionize in Madison, WI.

Both Costco and Whole Foods have made a profit in an industry where much lower profits are the standard.

Costco:

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Sep 01, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $4.09 billion for the four weeks ended August 28, 2005, an increase of 12 percent from $3.64 billion in the same four-week period of the prior fiscal year.

For the 16-week fiscal fourth quarter ended August 28, 2005, the Company reported net sales of $16.37 billion, an increase of 10 percent from $14.83 billion during last year's fiscal fourth quarter.

For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 28, 2005, the Company reported net sales of $51.87 billion, an increase of 10 percent from $47.15 billion during the prior fiscal year.

Whole Foods:

July 28, 2005. Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI) today reported sales and earnings for the 12-week quarter ended July 3, 2005. For the third quarter, sales increased 23% to $1.1 billion.

For the 40-week period ended July 3, 2005, sales increased 22% to $3.6 billion.

Whole Foods has been listed in Fortunes 100 best places to work every year since 1999.

Costco has been named by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the TOP THREE companies to work for in the entire state of Washington.

So in the end? Seems like either one would be better than quite a few of the jobs we have locally as far as benefits, pay and the companies ability to make a profit which will keep them in our area.