Whole Foods Market Inc getting traction with updated app

Whole Foods Market Inc.’s digital push seems to be paying down.

The retailer of organic and natural foods and merchandise launched its first digital couponing program on January 28 with version 7.0 of their online app, and thus far, the numbers look pretty good.

Since the company’s formal announcement on February 10, daily downloads surged from approximately 1,000 to 5,000 on Apple’s iOS, according to RBC Capital Markets.

“While digital coupling is just one initiative to restore comparable sales growth, we are encouraged by consumers’ engagement using the new program,” analyst William Kirk told clients.

Not only is Whole Foods’ new app being downloaded more, but customers are giving it higher scores.

Based on the five-star rating scale, the average version 7.0 score is four, and two-thirds of users give it a five. That comparison to any or all previous versions from the app, that have received a typical rating of three stars, according to nearly 17,000 total reviews.

While increased paying for programs similar to this will diminish Whole Foods’ earnings, Kirk believes it’s the only way to combat competitive headwinds within the grocery space.