Asheville Earth Fare Deli Rant

[Windsor]

Earth Fare has totally revamped their Deli and removed most all of my favorite items. The deli case is now filled with small platters. On my last visit I saw four our five platters of potato salad, four or five cole slaw, a few mac and cheese, a few filled with mashed potatoes and a very unappealing looking quinoa salad and a few platters of chicken salad. I was told the new deli will focus on the seasons. At the peak of summer they can't find anything with color? The entire case was white!

Sad turn of events for this household.

[miss piggy]

Which location? I haven't noticed a change in the West Asheville EF (which has always been excellent, IMO)

[Windsor]

I first noticed the change on July 2nd at the Boone, NC location. I overheard a clerk apologize for the delay saying they were still getting familiar with the new deli items. I didn't take too close of a look at the items in the deli as I was just getting a salad from the salad bar. On July 5th I stopped by Earth Fare on Hendersonville Road in Asheville and was quite disappointed to find the changes. My guess is it is (or will be) chain wide.

The clerk behind the counter was trying to be upbeat when I noticed they no longer carry ANY of my favorites from roasted Brussel sprouts, soy glazed snow peas with garlic, Carolina slaw, ratatouille burgers, tabbouleh, Asian noodles to name a few. I was told they would be introducing new items seasonally. I remain hopeful that the quality and variety will one day return.

[meatn3]

E-mail the corporate office. They are usually pretty responsive about this sort of thing.

It's a fine line on what to carry. Some customers get angry if there are out of season items ie blueberries in winter, others want their favorites year round.

[miss piggy]

Ugh, stopped by the West Asheville location today and their case was exactly as you described - lots of white! It looked worse than the Ingles deli case. And they changed their tuna recipe, which was always my favorite in town. Now it's bland and waaaaay too mayonaisey. :(

[Windsor]

This week's Mountain Xpress had a letter to the editor "Down and Out in Aisle One" complaining about the decline in quality at Earth Fare since the corporate buy out by Oak Hill Partners earlier this year.

http://www.gourmetnews.com/article/gn...

The sale took place this past April. I am not sure how this fell below my radar. I guess it took a few months for them to implement the dreadful changes. Incidentally, I read the article while enjoying a delightful lunch at Greenlife.

So sad.

[Leepa]

Even Roger Derrough, the founder of Earth Fare, shops at Greenlife. :D