CLEVELAND -- Grocery chain Whole Foods is cutting about 1,500 jobs nationwide, or 1.6 percent of its workforce, despite a recent expansion in Northeast Ohio.
The Associated Press is reporting that the company is looking to lower prices to keep up with the competition.
Whole Foods Market Inc. said Monday that many of the reductions will come through attrition over the next 8 weeks. It anticipates workers whose jobs are cut will find other jobs from the almost 2,000 open positions across the company, or from new jobs that'll be created by more than 100 new stores in development.
Just last Wednesday, the Rocky River Whole Foods Market opened its doors in the River Square Shopping Center on Detroit Road. The 40,000-square-foot store became the first Whole Foods to open on Cleveland's west side.
Whole Foods also has Northeast Ohio locations in Woodmere on Chagrin Boulevard, and in University Heights on Cedar Road.
Whole Foods was recently hurt by bad publicity when New York City officials found it was overcharging customers.
The company has been facing intense competition, with the organic offerings it's known for becoming more widely available. It's trying to appeal to a broader audience, with plans to open a new chain of stores with lower prices.
