Whole Foods Company Overview

Whole Foods Market has a company wide philosophy of spreading awareness about their point of views concerning environmental sustainability, quality standards, animal welfare, and commitment to bettering the planet. The German culture encourages progressive acts of affection that conveniences the prosperity of the developing world. (Whole Foods Market, Missions and Values)

All in all, Whole Foods Market Inc. is the most influential organic food retailer in the word. It built its motifs centered around its social responsibilities. The company’s green mission, Whole Foundations, and Whole Trade Guarantee showcase its commitment and reslince in supporting and bettering the world’s community busing food as the

Whole Foods was founded back in 1980 in Austin, Texas and led the industry for 20 years by focusing efforts on selling quality fresh, local, and organic produce. At Whole Foods, they consider "quality the highest form of value, which means strict standards that take into account such things as artificial food preservatives, sustainable seafood, animal welfare, antibiotics in meat and pesticides in vegetables" (Wholefoodsmarket.com, Mission, and Values).

* Whole Foods Market was founded in 1980 working with natural and healthy foods in Austin, Texas; it’s one of the world’s largest of natural and organic foods supermarkets. In 2009, the sales total $8 billion and had 289 stores in the U.S. The Whole Foods Market plans to come up with strategies to help improve the company but to do so understanding the core values plays a major role in the company’s planning. The strategies

Their mission statement and eight core values are the underpinning of their company culture. The eight core values include: 1) Selling the highest quality natural and organic products available, 2) satisfying, delighting and nourishing its customers, 3) Supporting team members excellence and

Whole Foods has become the world’s largest retail chain of natural and organic foods supermarkets. Not only is their focus to transform the way consumers look at food and its natural benefits, Whole Foods is looking to make a difference in the world with their products. Whole Foods appears to be in a rapidly growing market. Whole Foods has worked hard to set their products apart from other grocery retail chains and while their prices might still be considered high across the board, their products are geared towards a more health conscious individual who is willing to pay more for a healthier product.

Whole Foods is a supermarket that has successfully become the leader in the organic food segment of the grocery industry. While traditional markets have low brand loyalty and recognition, Whole Foods has focused almost entirely on its brand image, causing their strategy to be one of differentiation over cost leadership. Whole Foods is known as being far more expensive than other chains, due to this brand recognition. In their press release for the Q4 2014 results, they describe their vision and sum up what helps them develop that brand recognition. “We hold the idea of “food” to a higher standard, banning more than 75 ingredients commonly found in other stores, and we believe our unparalleled quality standards

Whole Foods Market, Inc, is an Austin, Texas based foods grocery that has the finest natural and organic food available, including produce, seafood, grocery, meat and poultry, bakery, prepared foods and catering, beer, wine, cheese; in addition to whole body, floral, pet products, and household products. Whole Foods is among the most profitable health food retailers in the United States. The rapid growth and market success has much to do with having remained a uniquely mission-driven company, highly selective about what they sell, dedicated to their core values, stringent quality standards, and committed to sustainable agriculture.

Barbara Farfan (n.d.) explains that, “Whole Foods Core Values define how Whole Foods leaders and employees interact with their products, customers, employee team, shareholders, communities, suppliers, and align everyone behind the mission of improving health in general.” For example, Whole Foods believes in satisfying their consumers by selling the highest quality of natural and organic products obtainable. The company strives to maintain the highest standards of quality, not only in the products they offer but in supporting excellence in the development their employees, communities, and the environment. Whole Foods direct core values as listed on the company website (2015 Whole Foods Market IP. L.P.), also

B. Mission Statement - Barbara Farfan who writes for about.com states, “The mission statement of the Whole Foods Company and Whole Foods Markets begins with its motto, which is "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet" The Whole Foods mission explains and defines what that motto means. This mission explanation includes..."Whole Foods - We obtain our products locally and from all over the world, often from small, uniquely dedicated food artisans. Whole People - We recruit the best

Whole Foods Inc. operates in the grocery industry with its main focus on providing consumers with a healthier, more natural, and a more organic alternative to grocery shopping. Their products differentiate from other mainstream grocery providers because they are a higher quality of product. After previously partnering with Google express, Whole Foods has now invested in Instacart, a delivery service that would primarily deliver Whole Foods products nationwide to its consumers for at least the next five years. (Rey)

Whole Foods Market believes that the operation of a company should exceed beyond profits and focus on creating values and relationships within their communities. Whole Foods Market is “currently the 8th largest public food and drug retailer in the U.S., ranking #232 on the Fortune 500” (Whole Foods Market Annual Report, 2013). Food retailing has gained more competiveness over the years. Whole Foods Market, has been awarded, “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store.” Whole Foods Market’s “seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture” (Whole Foods Market Company Info, 2014). They believe that providing customers with natural and organic products, they are giving customers the most nutritious food and the best tasty food as well. “The quality of their foods is measured by nutrition, freshness, appearance, and taste” (Whole Foods Market Company Info, 2014).

In other words, the company follows the Triple Bottom Line, a measure of sustainability that consists of three P’s: Planet, People, and Profit. Whole Foods’ business model acts in accordance to these three aspects. It is committed to alternative energy and to green building. The company cares about the impact of their service and products on the environment. Additionally, Whole Foods is devoted to provide satisfaction to their employees – or “Team Members” as John Mackey refers them: almost 90% of them get health insurance benefits, they collaborate with local suppliers. Lastly, it is concerned with making profit, as it enables them to achieve the two previous aspects of the Triple Bottom Lines – in the meantime, it also keeps the shareholders happy. Whole Foods’ philanthropy successfully accomplished building up profit and helping their firm and the

Whole Foods Market offers a wide collection of natural and organic products with an importance on unpreserved foods. The company offers a massive variety of products from groceries, catering and prepared foods, body care, lifestyle products, and supplements. Aside from the products, the company established many more brands such as ‘365 Organic Everyday Day Value’, ‘Health Starts Here’, and ‘Whole Fields’, just to name a few that emphasize an approach to eating healthy by building better meals and endorsing animal welfare on ranches and farm.

Whole Foods Market began in 1970 as a local supermarket. Over the past 31 years, Whole Foods Market has grown from a single store in Austin, Texas, to becoming one of the worldwide leaders in providing consumers with natural and organic foods. They have grown to over 300 stores in both North America and the United Kingdom. (Whole Foods Market, Inc., 2011) This report examines the chief elements of the strategy that Whole Foods Market has put into place. Also, it uses past financial data to provide an assessment of the condition of the company going forward. Those assessments include recommendations of future actions, along with concerns I have about the way the company is currently operating and some difficulties that may be on the way.