Whole Foods specializes in organic and premium groceries with higher prices and stricter sourcing standards, while Target offers general merchandise with a grocery section at lower prices. Whole Foods is a dedicated grocery retailer acquired by Amazon in 2017, whereas Target is a mass-market retailer with grocery as one category among many.
Whole Foods vs Target — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium organic-focused grocery chain offering high-end natural products, prepared foods, and customer experience.
American general merchandise discount retailer with furniture, home goods, clothing, and essentials.
Average Grocery Price Level. Organic Product Percentage. Store Count (US). Private Label Quality Tier. Amazon Prime Integration. Product Categories Beyond Groceries. Average Basket Size at Checkout
Choose Whole Foods if you prioritize organic products, prefer premium quality sourcing, and have an Amazon Prime membership for discounts—best for health-conscious shoppers willing to pay more. Choose Target if you want one-stop shopping with competitive prices, broad merchandise selection beyond groceries, and maximum store accessibility—best for budget-conscious families seeking convenience.
Average Price Premium vs Market Baseline
Whole Foods Market: 3-4 (groceries, bulk, supplements, prepared foods) | Target: 12+ (groceries, apparel, home, electronics, beauty, toys, etc.)
Whole Foods Market: 2017 (Amazon acquisition) | Target: Publicly traded (founded 1962)
Whole Foods Market: 40,000 | Target: 130,000 sq ft
Whole Foods Market: 365 Brand: 1,200 SKUs | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: +20-30% | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: ~15-20 weekly deals | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: $85-95 | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: 100% (all locations) | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: 25-30% | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: 50,000-60,000 | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: Hot bar, pizza, salads, sushi, prepared meals (8-12 stations) | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: $139 (Prime required for 10% discounts) | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: 2 brands | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: No separate program | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Market (main), Whole Foods 365 (budget format) | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: 8+ (salad bar, rotisserie, café) | Target: N/A
Average Weekly Grocery Bill (Family of 4)
Whole Foods Market: $380-420 | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: $139 (Prime membership) | Target: N/A
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $110 Billion
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: ~1,950
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $110+ billion
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $65 billion
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 60+ million Circle members (estimated)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1,948 Target stores
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Same-day pickup or 1-2 days
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 12+ major categories with 40M+ items
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 60-90 days (Circle members get 90)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $99 per year
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: ~400,000
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1,950+
Furniture Customization Variations Per Item
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $35 (RedCard) / $75 (standard)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1-2 days (in-store pickup) or 2-3 days (delivery)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 2,000+
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 30-120 days (varies by category)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: ~15,000
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1,900 stores
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 2,500 products
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 75 brands
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 50+ million (RedCard)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Baseline
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Optical services only
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 2 hours (most locations)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 15-30 minutes
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1,948 locations
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 3,500 items
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 15 categories
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 90 days
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $108 billion
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 30 days
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 5% (RedCard)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: None (general customer service only)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Same-day (varies by location)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Apparel, home, grocery, beauty, electronics
Average Electronics Price Competitiveness
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 97 (5% lower with RedCard)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 150-200
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Limited access (mostly drugstore brands like Maybelline, Neutrogena)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: $25-40 average transaction
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 1% cash back (Red Card)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Minimal services at select urban locations only
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: Buy online, pickup (2 hours), drive-up, same-day delivery
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 0 (pre-assembled)
Whole Foods Market: N/A | Target: 180000
How to choose between Whole Foods Market and Target
Whole Foods vs Target — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Whole Foods vs Target. Contains 92 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Whole Foods vs Target — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Whole Foods vs Target.
Is Whole Foods significantly more expensive than Target?
Yes. Whole Foods prices typically run 20-40% higher than Target on comparable items. For example, organic bananas cost ~$0.99/lb at Target vs. $1.49/lb at Whole Foods. However, Whole Foods items meet stricter organic and sustainability standards, and Amazon Prime members receive 10% discounts on select products.
Can I use my Amazon Prime membership at Whole Foods?
Yes. Whole Foods is owned by Amazon (acquired in 2017), and Prime members receive exclusive benefits including 10% discounts on select items, free grocery delivery on orders over $100 in select areas, and same-day delivery options in major cities.
Where should I shop if I want organic products on a budget?
Target's Good & Gather private label line offers USDA-certified organic products at significantly lower prices than Whole Foods—typically 15-25% cheaper than Whole Foods' 365 Brand. However, Whole Foods maintains broader organic selection (95% vs. 15-20%) and stricter sourcing standards.
Which store is better for one-stop shopping?
Target is superior for one-stop shopping with 12+ product categories including apparel, home goods, electronics, beauty, and toys alongside groceries. Whole Foods focuses exclusively on food, beverages, supplements, and prepared items, requiring separate trips for non-grocery needs.
What loyalty programs does each store offer?
Whole Foods offers Amazon Prime member benefits (10% discount on select items, free delivery). Target offers the RedCard loyalty program providing 5% discount on all purchases. Prime membership costs $139/year; RedCard is free.
How to Choose Between Whole Foods Market and Target
Average Grocery Price Level: Whole Foods Market has Premium (20-40% higher), while Target has Budget-friendly (avg market rate).
Organic Product Percentage: Whole Foods Market has 95%+ of products organic-certified, while Target has ~15-20% organic selection.
Store Count (US): Whole Foods Market has 520+ locations, while Target has 1,950+ locations.
Private Label Quality Tier: Whole Foods Market has 365 Brand (premium/organic focused), while Target has Good & Gather (value-oriented).
Amazon Prime Integration: Whole Foods Market has Prime members save 10% on select items, while Target has No Amazon Prime benefits.
Consider: Product Categories Beyond Groceries
Product Categories Beyond Groceries: Whole Foods Market has Minimal (bulk foods, supplements), while Target has Extensive (clothing, home, electronics).
Consider: Average Basket Size at Checkout
Average Basket Size at Checkout: Whole Foods Market has $55-75 (grocery-focused), while Target has $35-45 (mixed merchandise).