This post was written before the announcement that Loblaws had purchased Shoppers Drug Mart. At first blush it’s hard to know whether Nutshell, the experimental store announced Friday by Loblaws, is for real or just a gambit to grab our attention. The Toronto Star story suggests the health-themed store will compete with Whole Foods. The Canada.com story elaborates on recruiting drives (poster inset) and the development of what appears to be an insider culture of Nutshell-ism. (Play with a real Nutshell cube). Nutshell will open sometime this Fall in a loft-like atmosphere at 150 King St. West. It will feature ready-to-eat things, groceries, health food, vitamins, wellness seminars and a full pharmacy! Sounds like a cross between Tim Hortons and Shoppers Drug Mart. One can certainly see how Loblaws might like to throw a wrench in the big plans of Whole Foods especially somewhere along Bayivew Ave. Whole Foods will open at 1860 Bayview sometime in 2015 and for a period at least it seems likely that the chic allure of WF clean-living will impact others in the market. That certainly applies to Metro’s big store at Eglinton Ave. and Bayview. Metro however is a seasoned price competitor and will throw everything its got at WF’s rather expensive image. You can also buy Coke at Metro. As for high-end customers, we’re thinking WF will have a tougher time weening them off Summerhill Market and the Loblaws at 321 Moore. Location, location location. That’s it in a Nutshell for now.
