View source for Whole Foods Market

{{Short description|American natural supermarket chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Whole Foods Market, Inc.
| logo = Whole Foods Market 201x logo.svg
| logo_caption = "[[Kale]] Green" logo used since [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]'s acquisition in 2017
| image = SXSW05 WholeFoodsMothership.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters in [[Downtown Austin]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|WFM}}
| industry = {{Plainlist|
* [[Grocery store]]
* [[Health food store]]
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1980|9|20}}
| areas_served = {{unbulleted list|United States|Canada|United Kingdom}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|[[John Mackey (businessman)|John Mackey]]|Renee Hardy-Lawson|Mark Skiles|Craig Weller}}
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|John B. Elstrott ([[chairman]])|Jason Buechel ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])}}
| parent = [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] (2017–present)
| hq_location_city = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
| num_locations = 500+
| num_employees = 105,000 (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Dominick |date=February 6, 2023 |title=Meet the typical Whole Foods shopper, a highly educated West Coast millennial woman earning $80,000 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-whole-foods-shopper-demographic-millennial-woman-earning-middle-income-2021-8 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>
| products = {{hlist|Food|pharmacy|flowers|alcohol|general merchandise}}
| services = {{ubl|[[Catering]]| [[Online grocer|Online shopping and home delivery]]}}
| brands = 365
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|17 billion|link=yes}} (2021)<ref name=N>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258673/net-sales-of-whole-foods-market-worldwide/#:~:text=Whole%20Foods%20is%20expected%20to%20experience%20modest%20growth,projected%20to%20reach%2015.7%20billion%20U.S.%20dollars.%20 |publisher=statista|access-date=January 8, 2022|title=Net sales of Whole Foods Market worldwide from 2010, 2017 and 2021}}</ref>
| subsid = [[365 by Whole Foods Market]]
| website = {{URL|https://wholefoodsmarket.com/}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/28/amazon-officially-owns-whole-foods-here-are-the-products-that-are-getting-marked-down.html|title=Amazon officially owns Whole Foods; here are the products that are getting marked down|first=Lauren|last=Thomas|date=28 August 2017|website=Cnbc.com|access-date=17 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="WholeFoodsCompanyInfo" /><ref name="Whole Foods cutting 1,500 jobs">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/09/28/whole-foods-cutting-1500-jobs/72964692/|title=Whole Foods cutting 1,500 jobs|website=Usatoday.com|access-date=17 September 2017}}</ref>
}}

'''Whole Foods Market, Inc.''' (colloquially referred to as simply '''Whole Foods''') is an American multinational [[supermarket]] [[chain store|chain]] headquartered in [[Austin, Texas]], which generally sells [[whole food]] products free from [[hydrogenated fat]]s and [[artificial colors]], [[Artificial flavors|flavors]], and [[preservatives]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/quality-standards/food-ingredient|title=Food Ingredient Quality Standards|date=March 12, 2012|website=Whole Foods Market}}</ref> A [[USDA]] [[Certified Organic]] grocer in the United States, the chain is popularly known for its [[Organic food|organic selections]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/organic-food/organic-grocer|title=Certified Organic Grocer|date=April 7, 2016|website=Whole Foods Market}}</ref>

[[John Mackey (businessman)|John Mackey]], the last remaining co-founder of Whole Foods Market, sold the company to [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] [[List of mergers and acquisitions by Amazon|for $13.7 billion on August 28, 2017]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Amazon and Whole Foods Market Announce Acquisition to Close This Monday, Will Work Together to Make High-Quality, Natural and Organic Food Affordable for Everyone|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2295514|website=Amazon.com|publisher=BUSINESS WIRE|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171202184651/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2295514|archive-date =2 December 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2019|3|4|df=US|lc=|since=}}, Whole Foods has more than 500 stores in North America and six in the United Kingdom.<ref name="WholeFoodsCompanyInfo">{{cite web |title=Whole Foods Company Info |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info |access-date=22 January 2018 |website=WholeFoods.com}}</ref><ref name="locations">{{cite web |title=Independent Worker Group Calls for Whole Foods |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2020-03-31/some-whole-foods-workers-call-for-sick-out |access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Early years ===
In 1978, [[John Mackey (businessman)|John Mackey]] and Renee Lawson borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open a small [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas (the name being a [[parody|spoof]] of [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]). When the two were evicted for storing food products in their apartment, they decided to live at the store. Because it was zoned for commercial use, there was no shower stall, so they bathed using a water hose attached to their dishwasher.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Evan |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2005-03-01/talks |title=John Mackey |magazine=[[Texas Monthly]] |date=March 2005 |access-date=2011-10-27 |archive-date=2005-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308234240/http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2005-03-01/talks |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/brandautopsy/2005/03/run_gun_and_hav.html |title=Run, Gun, and Have Fun – Whole Foods Market Style |work=Brand Autopsy (blog) |date=2005-03-21 |last=Moore |first=John |access-date=2011-10-27}}</ref><ref name=marketplace>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/corner-office/john-mackey-whole-foods-growth |title=John Mackey on Whole Foods' Growth |work=[[Marketplace (radio program)|Marketplace]] |date=2007-02-26 |first=Kai |last=Ryssdal |access-date=2015-06-13 |archive-date=2015-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121034616/http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/corner-office/john-mackey-whole-foods-growth |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Two years later, Mackey and Lawson partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge SaferWay with the latter's Clarksville Natural Grocery, resulting in the opening of the original Whole Foods Market, which included meat products. At {{convert|10500|sqft|m2}} and with a staff of 19, the store was large in comparison to the standard [[health food store]] of the time.<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=Whole Foods Market History |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/whole-foods-market-history |website=Whole Foods Market |access-date=14 February 2015 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

On May 25, 1981, the most [[Shoal Creek, Austin, Texas#Flooding|damaging flood in 100 years]] devastated Austin. Whole Foods' inventory was ruined, and most of the equipment was damaged. The loss was approximately $400,000, and Whole Foods Market had no insurance. Customers, neighbors, and staff assisted in repairing and cleaning up the damage. Creditors, vendors, and investors assisted in the recovery, and the store reopened 28 days later.<ref name=history />

=== Expansion ===
[[File:Whole Foods Market in the Lower East Side of New York.jpg|thumb|The Whole Foods Market on [[Bowery]], in [[Manhattan]], is the largest grocery store in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/pr/wf/ne/pr_03-27-07.aspx |title=Whole Foods Market to Open New York's Largest and Most Eco-Friendly Supermarket at Bowery and Houston on March 29th |publisher=Whole Foods Market, Inc. |date=2007-03-27 |access-date=2008-08-25 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530191131/http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/pr/wf/ne/pr_03-27-07.aspx |archive-date=2008-05-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
[[File:Whole foods produce dept.jpg|thumb|The produce department of a new Whole Foods Market located in the Southern Hills area of [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]]]
[[File:bread & circus bakery Medford .jpg|thumb|right|A Bread & Circus and Whole Foods bakery in [[Medford, Massachusetts]]]]

Beginning in 1984, Whole Foods Market expanded from Austin, first to [[Houston]] and [[Dallas]] and then to New Orleans with the purchase of The Whole Food Co. in 1988. In 1989, the company expanded to the West Coast with a store in [[Palo Alto, California]].

The company made its [[initial public offering]] on January 23, 1992. The company's ticker symbol on the [[Nasdaq]] was WFM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/history/|title=History|website=Whole Foods Market|access-date=2020-02-12|archive-date=2020-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320080953/https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shapin |first=Steven |date=May 7, 2006 |title=Paradise Sold |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/05/15/paradise-sold |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>

While opening new stores, the company fueled rapid growth by acquiring other natural foods chains throughout the 1990s: '''Wellspring Grocery''' of [[North Carolina]], '''Bread & Circus''' of [[Massachusetts]] and [[Rhode Island]] (banner retired in 2003), '''Mrs. Gooch's Natural Foods Markets''' of Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/events/5873642-181/pamelas-products-gluten-free-baked-goods?artslide=0 |title=Pamela's Products bakes in gluten-free success |last=Dunn |first=James |date=2016-08-08 |work=North Bay Business Journal |access-date=2016-08-09 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=2016-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821201204/http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/events/5873642-181/pamelas-products-gluten-free-baked-goods?artslide=0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> '''Bread of Life''' of Northern California, '''Fresh Fields Markets''' on the East Coast and in the Midwest, '''Bread of Life''' of Florida, Detroit-area '''Merchant of Vino''' stores, and '''Nature's Heartland''' of Boston.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/timeline.html |title=Company Timeline |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2007-02-26 |archive-date=2008-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713130938/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/timeline.html |url-status=dead |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The company purchased '''Allegro Coffee Company''' in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/whole-foods-market-consolidate-some-operations|title=Whole Foods Market to consolidate some operations |date=May 14, 2021|author=Russell Redman|website=www.supermarketnews.com}}</ref> The company's 100th store was opened in [[Torrance, California]], in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.texascooking.com/features/aug2008_whole_foods_market.htm|title=Whole Foods Market Feature Article|last=Labinski|first=Steve|website=www.texascooking.com|access-date=2017-10-06}}</ref>

The company started its third decade with additional acquisitions. The first was Natural Abilities in 2000, which did business as Food for Thought in [[Northern California]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/18/business/company-news-whole-foods-to-buy-natural-food-supermarket-chain.html |title=Whole Foods To Buy Natural Food Supermarket Chain |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2000-01-18 |access-date=2008-08-15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> After the departure of then company president Chris Hitt and regional president Rich Cundiff, Southern California region, John Mackey promoted A. C. Gallo, president of the Northeast region, and [[Walter Robb]], president of the Northern California region to co-COO and soon after added the titles of co-president. This led to the promotion of three new regional presidents and a new era for the company. David Lannon became president of the Northeast region, Anthony Gilmore became president of the Southwest region, and Ron Megehan became the Northern California region, president. In 2001, Whole Foods also moved into [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7D91F31F937A25751C0A9679C8B63 |title=New Market Concentrates On Organic Food |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2001-02-14 |access-date=2008-08-15 |first=Florence |last=Fabricant}}</ref> Later that year, [[Ken Meyer]] became president of the newly formed South region and Whole Foods Market acquired the assets of '''Harry's Farmers Market''', which included three stores in [[Atlanta]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E1DC123FF933A2575BC0A9679C8B63&fta=y |title=Whole Foods To Buy Assets Of Harry's Farmers Market |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2001-08-10 |access-date=2008-08-15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In 2002, the company continued its expansion in North America and opened its first store in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2002/04/15/daily6.html |title=Whole Foods Market to open in Toronto |work=[[Austin Business Journal]] |date=2002-04-15 |access-date=2008-08-15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120722-121745/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2002/04/15/daily6.html |archivedate=22 Jul 2012}}</ref> Further continuing its expansion, Select Fish of [[Seattle]] was acquired in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2003/11/10/daily3.html |title=Sustainable seafood distributor bought by Whole Foods Market |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |date=2003-11-10 |access-date=2008-08-15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

In late 2004, it was reported that Whole Foods had "cleared $188 million in profits in the last two years."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fishman|first=Charles|title=The Grocer That Changed the World|date=December 2004|work=Ode|page=22}}</ref>

In 2005, Whole Foods opened its {{convert|80000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} flagship store in [[downtown Austin]]. The company's headquarters moved into offices above the store.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2005/02/21/daily13.html |title=New Whole Foods Market headquarters set for grand opening |work=[[Austin Business Journal]] |date=2005-02-22 |access-date=2008-08-15 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

Whole Foods opened its first store in Hawaii in 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/08/23/business/story01.html |title=Whole Foods to open Sept. 10|access-date=2018-04-04}}</ref> and in 2008 it also opened a southeast distribution center in [[Braselton, Georgia]], calling it the first "green distribution center" for the company.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mainstreetnews.com/2008/04:16:08/BE0416B.html |title=Whole Foods opens Braselton center |newspaper=Braselton News |date=2008-04-16 |access-date=2013-12-16 |first=Kerri |last=Testement |archive-date=2013-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514210839/http://www.mainstreetnews.com/2008/04:16:08/BE0416B.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Along with new acquisitions, such as the 2014 purchase of seven [[Dominick's]] Finer Foods locations in Chicago, Whole Foods has also sold stores to other companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Whole Foods buys seven Dominick's leases in Chicago from Safeway |work=Reuters |date=2014-02-03 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wholefoods-safeway-idUSBREA121K920140203 |access-date=2014-02-27 |first=Aditi |last=Shrivastava}}</ref> For example, 35 Henry's Farmers Market and Sun Harvest Market stores were sold to a subsidiary of Los Angeles grocer [[Smart & Final]] Inc. for $166 million in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071003/news_1b3henrys.html |title=Henry's bought by Smart & Final |newspaper=[[San Diego Union Tribune]] |date=2007-10-03 |first=Jennifer |last=Davies}}</ref>

Whole Foods opened its second store in western New York in [[Amherst, New York|Amherst]], a suburb of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] in September 2017.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://buffalonews.com/2017/09/13/bar-bocce-whole-foods-readies-friday-opening-amherst/|title=A peek at area's first Whole Foods as it prepares to open
|date=13 September 2017|access-date=4 April 2018|work=Whole Foods Market}}</ref>

As part of a streamlining campaign, in January 2017, the company reported that it would close three remaining regional kitchens in [[Everett, Massachusetts]]; [[Landover, Maryland]]; and [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref name="reut1" />

In June 2017, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2017/06/16/amazon-to-buy-whole-foods-for-13-7-billion/|title=Amazon Is Buying Whole Foods For $13.7 Billion|last=Gensler|first=Lauren|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref> Amazon plans for Whole Foods customers who also have an [[Amazon Prime]] account to be able to order groceries online and then pick them up in store for free.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/02/08/amazon-wholefoods-delivery-grocery-last-mile/#6fbcf9fc1300|title=Amazon Just Unveiled Its Grand Plan For Whole Foods: To Make The 'Last Mile' The First Mile|last=Olson|first=Parmy|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-05-22|language=en}}</ref>

In January 2019, to facilitate expansion into previously unserved areas, Amazon announced plans to acquire some former [[Sears]] and [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] locations from [[Sears Holdings]], which filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 Bankruptcy]] protection on October 15, 2018. These vacant locations would be demolished or remodeled to create new Whole Foods Market locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2019/amazon-whole-foods-expansion-sears-kmart-stores/|title=Amazon Considers Sears For Whole Foods Expansion|last=PYMNTS|date=2019-01-10|website=PYMNTS.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thetakeout.com/former-sears-kmart-buildings-whole-foods-amazon-1831679297|title=Ghosts of former Sears buildings could become shiny new Whole Foods|last=Bernot|first=Kate|website=The Takeout|date=11 January 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>

In April 2019, Whole Foods opened its largest store in the Southeast in Midtown Atlanta. The three-level store has a burger restaurant, an Allegro Coffee shop, and a rooftop terrace.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://atlantafi.com/another-whole-foods-is-coming-to-midtown/ |title=Largest Whole Foods in Southeast Opens in Midtown Atlanta|last=Johnson|first=CJ|website=www.atlantafi.com|date=19 March 2019|access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref>

==== International expansion ====
[[File:Whole Foods Market Vancouver Broadway Store Interior 2018.jpg|thumb|Whole Foods Market in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada]]
Whole Foods entered the Canadian market in 2002 with a {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} location in [[Toronto]], at the upscale [[Hazelton Lanes]] shopping centre in the city's [[Yorkville, Toronto|Yorkville]] neighbourhood.<ref name=retail-insider>{{cite news |date=November 24, 2014 |title=Whole Foods CEO Confirms Aggressive Canadian Expansion |url=http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2014/11/whole-foods | work=Retail Insider |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> In 2013, with nine Whole Foods stores already running in Canada (all of them in Toronto and Vancouver area), the company's co-founder and CEO Mackey stated forecasts of opening 40 more stores in the country over an unspecified timeframe and eventually reaching $1-billion in annual Canadian sales.<ref name=fpost-more>{{cite news |last=Van Praet |first=Nicolas |date=May 22, 2013 |title=Whole Foods co-CEO says grocer wants to open 40 more stores in Canada |url=http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/whole-foods-says-grocer-wants-to-open-40-more-canadian-stores/wcm/b34abbe5-8dea-4b10-97bf-ced34e5747ce | work=[[Financial Post]] |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> By January 2017—while announcing cancellation of 2015-2016 plans to open stores in [[Calgary]] and [[Edmonton]]—Whole Foods had 467 stores in three countries, majority of which were in the United States, except 9 in the United Kingdom and 12 in Canada.<ref name=star-cancel/> Among the twelve Canadian stores were five each in [[Greater Vancouver]] and [[Greater Toronto Area|Greater Toronto]], and one each in [[Ottawa]] and [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]].<ref name=star-cancel>{{cite news |last=Healing |first=Dan |date=January 9, 2017 |title=Whole Foods' Canadian expansion plans slow |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/01/09/whole-foods-canadian-expansion-plans-slow.html |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250819-193457/https://www.thestar.com/business/whole-foods-canadian-expansion-plans-slow/article_97dae7a8-b72f-5cfe-97eb-55e5e5747008.html |archivedate=19 August 2025 | work=[[Toronto Star|The Star]] |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> In March 2020 there were 487 stores in the US, 14 in Canada and 7 in the UK.<ref name=locations/>

In 2004, Whole Foods Market entered the UK by acquiring seven Fresh & Wild stores.<ref name=timeline /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/mar/27/supermarkets.usnews |location=London |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |title=Ripe target |date=2007-03-27 |first=Alex |last=Renton}}</ref> In June 2007, it opened its first full-size store, a total of {{convert|80000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} on three levels, on the site of the old [[Barkers of Kensington|Barkers]] department store on [[Kensington High Street]], West London and currently their largest store in the world. Company executives claimed that as many as forty stores might eventually be opened throughout the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/aug/03/whole-foods-organic-superstore-loss |title=Green store Whole Foods 36 million pounds in the red |first=Simon |last=Bowers |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=2009-08-03 |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref> However, by September 2008, in the wake of Whole Foods Market's financial troubles, Fresh & Wild had been reduced to four stores, all in London. The flagship [[Bristol]] branch closed because it had "not met profitability goals."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2795774/Fresh-and-Wild-closes-store-as-consumers-reject-organic-for-cheaper-deals.html |title=Fresh and Wild closes store as consumers reject organic for cheaper deals |date=2008-09-05 |access-date=2009-03-06 |location=London |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |first=Aislinn |last=Simpson}}</ref> In the year to September 28, 2008, the UK subsidiary lost £36 million due to a large [[impairment charge]] of £27 million and poor trading results due to the growing fears of a global recession.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/whole-foods-makes-pound36m-loss-in-britain-1766987.html |title=Whole Foods makes £36m loss in Britain |first=James |last=Thompson |date=2009-08-04 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London}}</ref> However, in 2011, global sales grew +8% each financial quarter as shoppers returned to the chain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/earnings-preview-whole-foods-190026796.html |title=Earnings Preview: Whole Foods |date=2012-02-07 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |work=[[Yahoo! Finance]]}}</ref> A first Scottish store was opened on November 16, 2011, in [[Giffnock]], Glasgow, which was closed in November 2017 along with the company's [[Cheltenham]] store as part of a rationalization plan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/giffnock-whole-foods-market-close-13936782|title=Giffnock Whole Foods Market to close for good next week - here's all the details|last=Russell|first=Jennifer|date=2017-11-22|website=glasgowlive|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/everything-know-far-whole-foods-735723|title=Everything we know so far about Whole Foods closure plans|last=Calderbank|first=Matthew|date=2017-11-07|website=gloucestershirelive|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> Whole Foods Market Inc. currently operates five different Whole Foods locations, all in [[Greater London]]: in [[Camden Town]], [[Clapham Junction (area)|Clapham Junction]], [[Kensington]], [[Piccadilly Circus]] and [[Stoke Newington]].

==== Acquisition of Wild Oats Markets and antitrust complaint ====
On February 21, 2007, Whole Foods Market, Inc. and [[Wild Oats Markets]] Inc. announced the signing of a merger agreement under which Whole Foods Market, Inc. would acquire Wild Oats Markets Inc.'s outstanding common stock in a cash tender offer of $18.50 per share, or approximately $565 million based on fully diluted shares. Under the agreement, Whole Foods Market, Inc. would also assume Wild Oats Markets Inc.'s net debt totaling approximately $106 million as reported on September 30, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/02/19/daily28.html |title=Whole Foods to acquire Wild Oats |work=[[Austin Business Journal]] |date=2007-02-22 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

On June 27, 2007, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) issued an administrative complaint challenging Whole Foods Market, Inc.'s acquisition of Wild Oats Markets Inc. According to the complaint, the FTC believed that the proposed transaction would violate federal [[antitrust]] laws by eliminating the substantial competition between two close competitors in the operation of premium natural and organic supermarkets nationwide. The FTC contended that if the transaction were to proceed, Whole Foods Market would have the ability to raise prices and reduce quality and services. Both Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats stated their intention to oppose the FTC's complaint vigorously, and a court hearing on the issue was scheduled for July 31 and August 1, 2007. CEO John Mackey started a blog<ref>{{Cite news |title=John Mackey's Blog |url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214231733/https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Whole Foods Market|date=23 March 2012 }}</ref> on the subject to explain his opposition to the FTC's stance. Further blogging by Mackey was revealed when the FTC released papers detailing highly opinionated comments under the pseudonym "Rahodeb" that he made to the Whole Foods [[Yahoo!]] investment message board. This became the subject of an investigation when the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) noted that the Regulation Fair Disclosure law of 2000 may have been violated.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB118418782959963745 |title=Whole Foods Is Hot, Wild Oats a Dud – So Said 'Rahodeb' |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2007-07-12 |first1=David |last1=Kesmodel |first2=John R. |last2=Wilke |name-list-style=amp |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wholefoods-ftc-idUSN1133440820070712 |title=John Mackey panned Wild Oats on Web |work=[[Reuters]] |date=2007-07-12 |first=Peter |last=Kaplan}}</ref> The SEC cleared Mackey of the charges on April 25, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/865436/000110465908026968/a08-12637_18k.htm |title=Form 8-K for Whole Foods Market, Inc. |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |date=2008-04-25 |access-date=2008-08-14 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

On July 29, 2008, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned the district court's decision to allow the merger. The Court of Appeals ruled that "premium natural, and organic supermarkets" ("PNOS"), such as Whole Foods and Wild Oats, constitute a distinct submarket of all grocers. The court ruled that "mission-driven" consumers (those with an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility) would be adversely affected by the merger because substantial evidence by the FTC showed that Whole Foods intended to raise prices after the consummation of the merger.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-and-proceedings/cases/2009/01/whole-foods-market-inc-and-wild-oats-markets-inc |title=Whole Foods Market, Inc., and Wild Oats Markets, Inc |publisher=[[Federal Trade Commission]] |date=2009-01-29 |access-date=2013-12-16 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> As part of its effort to combat the ruling, Whole Foods subpoenaed financial records, market studies, and future strategic plans belonging to [[New Seasons Market]], a regional competitor based in the Portland area.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-5806-updated_screw_market_share_whole_foods_subpoenas_new_seasons_financial_and_marketing_records.html |title=UPDATED-Screw Market Share: Whole Foods subpoenas New Seasons' financial and marketing records |newspaper=[[Willamette Week]] |date=2008-12-01 |access-date=2012-04-14 |first=Kelly |last=Clarke}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://video.newseasonsmarket.com//pdf/wholefoodsubpoena.pdf |title=Full subpoena text |date=2008-10-13 |access-date=2013-08-03 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=[[New Seasons Market]] }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2009, Whole Foods agreed to sell the Wild Oats chain.<ref>{{cite book |first=George W. |last=Reynolds |title=Ethics in Information Technology |edition=Third |publisher=Course Technology |year=2010 |page=189 |isbn=978-0-538-74622-9 |oclc=504510313}}</ref>

=== 2017–present: Amazon subsidiary ===
In February 2017, Whole Foods said it would close nine stores and lowered its financial projections for the year as the natural-foods company struggled with increased competition and slowing sales growth.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} In late April 2017, Whole Foods reported their sixth consecutive quarter of declining sales and announced that the company would be closing nine stores: two each in Colorado and California, and one each in Georgia, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Illinois. The loss of revenue was attributed to foot traffic being down and other supermarkets offering a similar experience for a lower cost.<ref>{{cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/29/whole-foods-hard-times-retail |title=Hard times for Whole Foods: 'People say it's for pretentious people. I can see why' |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2017-04-29 |access-date=2017-05-01 }}</ref>

{{Wikinews|Amazon.com to acquire Whole Foods at US$42 per share}}

In June 2017, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] announced it would acquire Whole Foods Market,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-16/amazon-to-acquire-whole-foods-in-13-7-billion-bet-on-groceries|title=Amazon to acquire Whole Foods|work=Bloomberg|date=2017-06-16}}</ref><ref name="ft-acquirew">{{cite news |date=June 16, 2017 |title=Amazon swoop on Whole Foods rattles supermarket shares |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cfa16be2-52aa-11e7-a1f2-db19572361bb |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/cfa16be2-52aa-11e7-a1f2-db19572361bb |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-access=subscription | work=[[Financial Times]] |location=United Kingdom |access-date=June 18, 2017}}</ref> adding some 400 physical stores to Amazon's e-commerce assets.<ref name="ft-wall">{{cite news |last=Nicolau |first=Anna |date=June 17, 2017 |title=Walmart and Amazon in acquisition shopping spree in retail battle |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bca88eac-52f6-11e7-bfb8-997009366969 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/bca88eac-52f6-11e7-bfb8-997009366969 |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=[[Financial Times]] |location=United Kingdom |access-date=June 18, 2017}}</ref> The purchase was valued at $13.7 billion and caused Whole Foods's stock price to soar after the announcement was made.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/16/amazon-is-buying-whole-foods-in-a-deal-valued-at-13-point-7-billion.html|title=Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a deal valued at $13.7 billion|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=2017-06-16|work=CNBC|access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref>

In 2018, Whole Foods announced its possible intention to take over some vacant [[Sears]] and [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] stores and refurbish them after [[Sears Holdings Corporation]], which owned both chains, filed for [[bankruptcy]] in October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/amazon-taking-sears-spaces-whole-foods-expansion-96674|title=Amazon Reportedly Seeking Old Sears Spaces For Whole Foods Expansion|date=January 13, 2019|last=Rothstein|first=Matthew|website=www.bisnow.com|access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref>

In April 2022, Whole Foods in [[Austin, Texas]], began allowing consumers to make purchases by scanning their palms. The system uses the [[Amazon One]] system connected to a customer's debit or credit card.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carlson |first=Kara |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/business/2022/04/19/use-your-palm-pay-austin-whole-foods-stores-amazon-one/7369525001/ |title=Austin Whole Foods |work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |date=2022-04-19 |accessdate=2022-04-20 }}</ref>

In September 2022, [[John Mackey (businessman)|John Mackey]] stepped down from his position as [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of the company, one he held since its inception in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |last=Palmer |first=Annie |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/30/whole-foods-ceo-john-mackey-to-step-down-from-job-in-2022.html/ |title=Whole Foods' co-founding CEO, John Mackey, to retire from the Amazon-owned grocer in 2022|work=[[CNBC]] |date=2021-09-30 |accessdate=2022-09-01 }}</ref> Jason Buechel succeeded him. Buechel previously was executive vice president and [[chief information officer]] (CIO) between 2013 and 2019, followed by a tenure as [[chief operating officer]] (COO) from 2019 until his promotion in 2022.

In March 2024, Whole Foods announced they will close their Fulham and Richmond stores in the UK, as well as their distribution center in Dartford. The Amazon-owned supermarket also announced that they have signed a lease for a new store on King's Road in London's Chelsea, expected to open its doors in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nott |first=George |date=2024-03-15 |title=Whole Foods Market to shutter two stores and Dartford DC |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/supermarkets/whole-foods-market-to-shutter-two-stores-and-dartford-dc/689300.article |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=The Grocer }}</ref>

In January 2025 workers at a Whole Foods Market in [[Philadelphia]] voted to become the first [[labor unions in the United States|unionized]] store in the grocery chain,<ref name="workers">{{cite news |title=Workers at Philadelphia Whole Foods Market become 1st to unionize at the Amazon-owned grocery chain |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-whole-foods-market-union/ |work=CBS News |date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref name="union">{{cite news |title=Whole Foods Workers Form First Union in Amazon's Grocery Chain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/business/whole-foods-union-vote.html |work=New York Times |date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> hoping that a union could help negotiate higher [[wages]] and better benefits.<ref name="union" /> Whole Foods said it was "disappointed" by the unionization.<ref name="fields">{{cite news |last1=FIELDS |first1=ASHLEIGH |title=Philadelphia Whole Foods first to unionize |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5110785-whole-foods-unionize-amazon/amp/ |work=The Hill |date=January 28, 2025}}</ref> In February 2025, Whole Foods asked the [[National Labor Relations Board]] to reject the results of the union election, making unspecified allegations that the election was invalid.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Whole Foods asks agency to set aside results of union win at Philadelphia store |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/amazons-foods-asks-agency-set-aside-results-union-118496348 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

== Product quality ==
[[File:Wholefoodsmarket caryproduce.jpg|thumb|Produce in a [[Cary, North Carolina]], store]]

Whole Foods Market sells only products that meet its internally developed, proprietary quality standards for being "natural," which the store defines as minimally processed foods that are free of hydrogenated fats as well as [[Artificial flavoring|artificial flavors]], [[food coloring|colors]], [[Sugar substitutes|sweeteners]], [[preservatives]], and many others as listed on their online "Unacceptable Food Ingredients" list.<ref name="quality standards">{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/quality-standards/food-ingredient |title=Food Ingredient Quality Standards |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-08-31 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Whole Foods also stated its intent not to sell meat or milk from [[cloning|cloned]] animals or their offspring, even though the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) has ruled them safe to eat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/02/14/14wholefoods.html |title=Whole Foods won't sell meat from clones |newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |date=2007-02-14 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2007-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216021607/http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/02/14/14wholefoods.html |url-status=dead |first=Lilly |last=Rockwell}}</ref><ref name=clone>{{cite web |title=Cloned Meat Q&A |url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/environmental-stewardship/cloned-meat-qa |website=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-02-14 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-date=2015-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214231721/https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/environmental-stewardship/cloned-meat-qa |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The company also sells many USDA-certified organic foods and products that aim to be environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible. Stores do not carry [[foie gras]] or eggs from hens confined to [[battery cages]] due to animal cruelty concerns as a result of successful advocacy by animal welfare groups. The Whole Foods website details the company's criteria for selling food, dietary supplements, and personal care products.<ref name="quality standards" />

Until June 2011, body care products sold at Whole Foods could be marketed as organic even if they contained ingredients not listed by the USDA as acceptable for use in organic food.<ref name="Organic Body Care Policy">{{cite web |title=Organic Body Care Policy |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/organic-body-care-policy |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2012-11-20 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-date=2012-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130224005/http://wholefoodsmarket.com/organic-body-care-policy |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Products made using petroleum-derived and other synthetic or chemical ingredients, prohibited in organic foods, can be found among the organic shampoos and lotions made by Avalon, Nature's Gate, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Kiss My Face and other brands," said Urvashi Rangan, an environmental health scientist at [[Consumer Reports]]. This is because the federal guidelines that regulate organic food labeling do not apply to cosmetics.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/18/style/is-organic-shampoo-chemistry-or-botany.html?scp=1&sq=toxins+found+in+organic+products&st=nyt |title=Is Organic Shampoo Chemistry or Botany? |author-link=John Leland (journalist) |first=John |last=Leland |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2003-05-18}}</ref> Starting in June 2011, personal care products sold at Whole Foods Market were required to follow the same USDA National Organic Program standards for organic food. This required products labeled "Organic" to contain 95 percent or more certified organic ingredients.<ref name="Organic Body Care Policy" />

[[File:Parmesan Cheese Wheel - Whole Foods.JPG|thumb|right|Opening a wheel of [[Parmigiano-Reggiano]] cheese at Whole Foods Market in [[Overland Park, Kansas]]]]

In a ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' article in August 2009, John Mackey acknowledged that his company had lost touch with its natural food roots and would attempt to reconnect with the idea that health was affected by the quality of food consumed. He said, "We sell a bunch of junk." He stated that the company would focus more on health education in its stores.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB124941849645105559 |title=As Sales Slip, Whole Foods Tries Health Push |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2009-08-05 |first1=Katy |last1=McLaughlin |first2=Timothy W. |last2=Martin |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> As of 2013, many stores have employed Healthy Eating Specialists who are team members who "answer customers' healthy eating questions and can assist ... in choosing the most nutrient-dense ingredients, suggest satisfying healthy recipes," and help "create a meal plan in keeping with your health goals."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/essential-advice-our-healthy-eating-specialists |title=Essential Advice from Our Healthy Eating Specialists |publisher=Whole Foods Market |first=Jolène M. |last=Bouchon |date=2013-12-31}}</ref>

In early April 2025, the bakery, deli, and cooked foods sections of Whole Foods in [[Cupertino, California]] were closed down by local health authorities due to repeated violations and failure to remediate  the presence of rodents and rodent droppings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cupertino: Whole Foods deli, bakery remain closed for health violations |last=Lam |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/12/cupertino-whole-foods-deli-bakery-health0violations-rodent/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |work=[[The Mercury News]] |date=12 April 2025 |location=[[San Jose, California]]}}</ref>

== Rating systems ==

Whole Foods Market has developed several in-store rating systems for various departments to allow their customers full transparency in purchasing. The Seafood department has a Sustainability Rating System for wild-caught seafood<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/seafood-sustainability/wild-caught-seafood-sustainability-ratings |title=Wild-caught seafood sustainability ratings |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821124201/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/seafood-sustainability/wild-caught-seafood-sustainability-ratings |url-status=dead }}</ref> while farm-raised seafood has to meet aquaculture standards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/seafood-sustainability/aquaculture |title=Aquaculture |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821001144/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/seafood-sustainability/aquaculture |url-status=dead }}</ref> both rated in accordance to third-party auditors. The Meat department has a rating system in partnership with the Global Animal Partnership based on animal welfare.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/quality-standards/animal-welfare-standards |title=Animal Welfare Standards |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref> The produce department has a rating system based on farming practices which include measures of a farm's environment, GMO transparency, worker safety, and wage practices.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/responsibly-grown/produce-rating-system |title=Produce Rating System |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref> The grocery department has an Eco-scale rating system for its cleaning products which measures their environmental impact.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/environmental-stewardship/eco-scale |title=Eco-scale |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901084754/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values/environmental-stewardship/eco-scale |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each system is in place to allow customers to make the most educated choices within Whole Foods Market. There are efforts to create more rating systems in other departments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthyratings |title=Health Starts Here Rating System |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601053129/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthyratings |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== GMO product labeling ==
Whole Foods Market has announced plans to provide its customers GMO ([[genetically modified organism]]) product labeling by 2018.<ref name="wholefoodsmarket.com">{{Cite web|url=https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/whole-foods-market-commits-to-full-gmo-transparency|title=Whole Foods Market commits to full GMO transparency|website=Whole Foods Market|date=8 March 2013|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> Efforts of GMO transparency run the gamut of each department. For years, Non-GMO Project Verified items have been sought in Grocery.<ref name="wholefoodsmarket.com" /> While efforts continue in Produce, Whole Foods recommends buying organic or referring to their "Responsibly Grown produce rating system [which] requires growers to disclose the use of GMO seeds or plant material."<ref name="wholefoodsmarket.com" /> In Seafood, plans are being made to launch a Non-GMO Project Verification process for farm-raised fish.<ref name="wholefoodsmarket.com" /> Currently, there are no USDA Organic regulations for farmed seafood.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/usda-propose-standards-organic-seafood-raised-u-s|title=USDA to propose standards for organic seafood raised in U.S.|website=[[PBS]]|date=2015-04-16}}</ref>

== Purchasing ==
[[File:Beer at a grocery store in New York City.JPG|thumb|Whole Foods Market has opened wine and beer shops to cater to their upmarket brand. Above, the imported beer case at a Whole Foods beer shop.]]
Whole Foods Market purchases products for retail sale from local, regional, and international wholesale suppliers and vendors. Most purchasing occurs at the regional and national levels to negotiate volume discounts with major vendors and distributors. Regional and store buyers focus on local products and any unique products necessary to ensure a neighborhood market feel. Whole Foods says that the company is committed to buying from local producers that meet its quality standards while also increasingly focusing more of their purchasing on producer- and manufacture-direct programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/investor/annualreports.html |title=2006 Annual Report |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=2006 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2007-03-28 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005014/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/investor/annualreports.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some regions have an employee known as a "forager," whose sole duty is to source local products for each store.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/whole-foods-local-forager.aspx |title=Food & Kitchen – Foraging for a Change |last=Langlois |first=Cherie |publisher=[[Hobby Farms]] |access-date=2008-10-14 |date=2009-02-18 |archive-date=2008-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006004816/http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/whole-foods-local-forager.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Whole Trade Guarantee ===
In April 2007, Whole Foods Market launched the Whole Trade Guarantee, a purchasing initiative emphasizing ethics and social responsibility concerning products imported from the developing world. The criteria include fair prices for crops, environmentally sound practices, better wages and labor conditions for workers, and the stipulation that one percent of proceeds from Whole Trade-certified products go to the Whole Planet Foundation to support micro-loan programs in developing countries. The company's goal, published in 2007, is to have at least half of its imported products from these countries fully certified by 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/04/02/fairs-fair-at-whole-foods.aspx |title=Fair's Fair at Whole Foods |website=[[The Motley Fool]] |date=2007-04-02 |first=Alyce |last=Lomax}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=262 |title=Whole Foods to Certify Sustainable Products |publisher=California Green Solutions |date=2007-03-20 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2007-07-06 |archive-date=2020-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914221832/http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=262 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Efforts ==
Whole Foods Market has a policy of donating at least five percent of its annual net profits to charitable causes. Some of this mandate is accomplished through store-level donations held on certain "5% days" throughout the year. The rest of it comes from various targeted projects by the company.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x6_P7hEEZkQC |title=It's not what you sell, it's what you stand for |first=Roy M. Jr. |last=Spence |publisher=Penguin |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4406-9790-6}}</ref>

=== Environmental involvement ===
In May 1999, Whole Foods Market joined the [[Marine Stewardship Council]] (MSC), a global independent, not-for-profit organization promoting [[sustainable fisheries]] and responsible fishing practices worldwide to help preserve [[Fish stocks|fish stock]]s for future generations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.org/html/ni_224.htm |title=Whole Foods Market Continues Commitment to Seafood Sustainability by Offering Marine Stewardship Council-certified Halibut |publisher=[[Marine Stewardship Council]] |date=2006-05-04 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2007-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209220659/http://www.msc.org/html/ni_224.htm |url-status=dead |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The company first began selling MSC-certified seafood in 2000, and a growing selection of MSC-certified fish continues to be available.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/pr_fishforever.html |title=Whole Foods Market Introduces Certified Sustainable Seafood |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=2000-03-08 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2007-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818003101/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/pr_fishforever.html |url-status=dead |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

Whole Foods placed third on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Top 25 Green Power Partners". The company also received the EPA Green Power Award in 2004 and 2005 and the Partner of the Year award in 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/partners/wholefoodsmarket.htm |title=Partner Profile |publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] |date=2010-11-17 |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202061954/http://epa.gov/greenpower/partners/partners/wholefoodsmarket.htm |archive-date=2009-02-02 |url-status=dead |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> A January 8, 2007, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) report listed Whole Foods Market as the second-highest purchaser of green power nationwide, citing its actions as helping drive the development of new renewable energy sources for the electricity generation. The EPA report showed Whole Foods Market using 463.1 million kilowatt hours annually. It was covered, 100 percent net-wise, by its total electricity from biomass, geothermal, small hydro, solar, and wind sources.<ref name="EPATop25">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top100.htm |title=EPA Top 25 Partners in the Green Power Partnership |publisher=[[US Environmental Protection Agency]] |date=2007-01-08 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117040253/http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top100.htm |archive-date=2013-11-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 2024, Whole Foods dairy suppliers were planning a pilot program with Windfall Bio, a startup company with financing from the [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] Climate Pledge Fund, [[Breakthrough Energy]] Ventures, [[Mayfield (company)|Mayfield]], and others, to add [[Microorganism|microbes]] to the soil of their farms that consume [[methane emissions]] to produce [[fertilizer]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Olick|first=Diana|date=August 13, 2024|title=This startup will sell methane-eating microbes to Whole Foods|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/13/this-startup-will-sell-methane-eating-microbes-to-whole-foods.html|access-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
Whole Foods Market claims several energy efficient initiatives on the store website, including installing electric vehicle charging stations, harnessing solar energy, achieving green building certificates, using green refrigeration, and designing grocery stores of the future.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Built Environment Programs |url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-in-action/environmental-stewardship/built-environment |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Whole Foods Market |language=en}}</ref>

In 2006 Whole Foods Market was amongst the first retailers, and the first Fortune 500 company, to offset 100% of their emissions by purchasing [[Renewable Energy Credits]] (RECs).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Porter |last2=Kramer |date=2006 |title=Strategy and Society: The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Responsibility |url=https://www.fsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Strategy_and_Society.pdf |access-date=March 4, 2024 |work=Harvard Business Review}}</ref> Skepticism surrounding this purchase and RECs as a whole have been prevalent online. Harvard Business Review writes that "the money paid to purchase those RECs, in theory, subsidizes the higher cost of producing clean electricity, making this alternative competitive, or creates a market mechanism that will cause more renewables to be produced."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schendler |first=Auden |date=2006-09-01 |title=Energy-Credit Buyers Beware |url=https://hbr.org/2006/09/energy-credit-buyers-beware |access-date=2024-03-04 |work=Harvard Business Review |issn=0017-8012}}</ref> The energy produced by wind farms that are benefactors of RECs is distributed to the same power grid as energy from fossil fuels, making the success of RECs difficult to track and quantify. Energy policy researcher Michael Gillenwater states that "claims that the U.S. green power market result in additional wind power lack credibility."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gillenwater |first1=Michael |title=Probabilistic decision model of wind power investment and influence of green power market |journal=Energy Policy |date=December 2013 |volume=63 |pages=1111–1125 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2013.09.049 |bibcode=2013EnPol..63.1111G }}</ref> A 2022 study found that the purchasing of RECs inflates the actual value of this environmental commodity in terms of limiting emissions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bjørn |first1=Anders |last2=Lloyd |first2=Shannon M. |last3=Brander |first3=Matthew |last4=Matthews |first4=H. Damon |title=Renewable energy certificates threaten the integrity of corporate science-based targets |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=June 2022 |volume=12 |issue=6 |pages=539–546 |doi=10.1038/s41558-022-01379-5 |bibcode=2022NatCC..12..539B |hdl=20.500.11820/fd48d7fc-d354-4ed6-bc99-70e515a7b189 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Whole Foods Market also has several stores that function entirely on [[UTC Power|UTC power]] fuel cells on-site.<ref>{{cite press release |id={{ProQuest|869424844}} |title=New Whole Foods Market(R) in Fairfield, Conn., to Generate Clean Power On-Site with PureCell(R) System Model 400 from UTC Power: Store will be the fourth Whole Foods Market to generate majority of its power with a fuel cell from UTC Power |agency=PRNewswire |publisher=UTC Power |date=1 June 2011 }}</ref> One of the company's Mississippi locations plans on utilizing a local wind farm funded by Amazon to source the store's energy needs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=Amazon wind farm in Mississippi will power local Whole Foods Market, fulfillment centers |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/technology/amazon-wind-farm-mississippi-will-power-local-whole-foods-market-fulfillment-centers |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Supermarket News |language=en}}</ref> In the case study of a Raleigh, North Carolina Whole Foods Market, the company worked with the U.S. Department of Energy's Commercial Building Partnerships to plan and evaluate the construction of an extremely energy-efficient building, which if successful, would have been rolled out to other locations.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1011265 |title=Thinking Like a Whole Building: A Whole Foods Market New Construction Case Study |last1=Deru |first1=M. |last2=Bonnema |first2=E. |date=2011-04-01 |publisher=National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States) |issue=NREL/TP–5500–50056 |language=English |last3=Doebber |first3=I. |last4=Hirsch |first4=A. |last5=McIntyre |first5=M. |last6=Scheib |first6=J.|osti=1011265 }}</ref> Whole Foods Market is also working with the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill program to reduce refrigerant emissions. Refrigeration is extremely energy-intensive, leading the company to start using a refrigerant with a 68% lower global warming potential than the most commonly used refrigerants.<ref>{{cite press release |id={{ProQuest|2514343071}} |title=Whole Foods Market Adopts Honeywell Technology To Reduce Carbon Footprint At U.S. Stores: - Honeywell Solstice® N40 (R-448A) lower-global-warming-potential refrigerant will help global supermarket chain meet sustainability goals |agency=PR Newswire |publisher=Honeywell |date=19 April 2021 }}</ref>

Whole Foods signed an agreement with [[SolarCity]] to install solar panels on up to 100 stores. In 2015 the company was named in the top 25 companies by number of solar installations. Whole Foods also reduced their energy usage by 21% between 2010 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar Means Business 2015: Top U.S. Corporate Solar Users {{!}} SEIA |url=https://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-means-business-2015-top-us-corporate-solar-users |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.seia.org |language=en}}</ref>

Whole Foods Market extends their energy initiatives globally. The company's non-profit organization, Whole Planet, which aims to alleviate poverty also pertains to climate mitigation. In 2023 the company announced that they would fund the distribution of solar home kits across Sierra Leone, making energy more accessible with a Pay-as-you-Go model.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whole Planet Foundation Approves $50,000 to Smiling Through |url=https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/788571-whole-planet-foundation-approves-50000-smiling-through-light-scale-pay-you-go |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.csrwire.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Eliminating plastic ===
[[File:Kangaroo Tote by KeepCool Bags for Whole Foods Market (Spring 2018).jpg|thumb|Reusable bags made by KeepCool USA and sold by Whole Foods Market in spring 2018]]In January 2008, Whole Foods Market was the first U.S. supermarket to commit to eliminating disposable plastic grocery bags to help protect the environment and conserve resources, and many stores serve as a collection point for shoppers to recycle their plastic bags.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_23563794/boulders-bag-fee-goes-into-effect-today |title=Boulder's bag fee goes into effect today |newspaper=[[Daily Camera]] |first=Erica |last=Meltzer |date=2013-06-30 |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

On [[Earth Day]], April 22, 2008, the chain eliminated the use of disposable plastic grocery bags company-wide at point-of-purchase<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/pr/wf/national/pr_01-22-08.aspx |title=Whole Foods Market to Sack Disposable Plastic Grocery Bags by Earth Day / Whole Foods |publisher=Whole Foods Market |date=2008-01-22 |access-date=2013-08-03 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603085633/http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/pr/wf/national/pr_01-22-08.aspx |archive-date=2008-06-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in favor of reusable bags or paper bags made from recycled paper. The company also began offering "Better Bags," large, colorful grocery bags made primarily from recycled bottles. The move from the traditional paper/plastic system to reusable bags has been packaged as an initiative the company calls "BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/byobag/ |title=Bring Your Own Bag |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2008-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828031530/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/byobag |url-status=dead |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The campaign is aimed at reducing pollution by eliminating plastic bags and reducing waste by encouraging bag reuse with "bag refunds" of 5–10 cents, depending on the store.

However, it still offers single-use plastic bags in its produce department and does little to discourage persistent use by customers and Amazon Prime Now shoppers alike.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailycal.org/2020/11/12/calpirg-calls-on-whole-foods-to-eliminate-single-use-plastic-packaging/ |title=CalPIRG calls on Whole Foods to eliminate single-use plastic packaging |newspaper=[[Daily Californian]] |first=Kelly |last=Suth |date=2020-11-12 |access-date=2021-01-05}}</ref>

=== Treatment of animals ===
Whole Foods created the Animal Compassion Foundation in January 2005 to help other producers evolve their practices to raise animals naturally and humanely. On December 5, 2014, the organization<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78581489&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |title = Trademark Status & Document Retrieval}}</ref> registration was canceled. In 2008, Whole Foods created the [[Global Animal Partnership]] (G.A.P.) and says that "all fresh beef, pork, chicken, turkey and lamb (except kosher turkey and chicken) must be certified to meet 100+ animal welfare standards" set by the organization.<ref>"[https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/quality-standards/meat-standards Meat Department Quality Standards]," Whole Foods Market, accessed 25 June 2023.</ref>

Whole Foods announced in June 2006 that it would stop selling live [[lobster]]s and crabs, but in February 2007, made an exception for a [[Portland, Maine]], store for its ability to meet "humane standards." The lobsters are kept in private compartments instead of being piled on top of one another in a tank, and employees use a device that gives them a 120-volt shock so that they are not boiled alive in a pot of water.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-02-07-lobsters_x.htm |title=Whole Foods will sell lobsters in Maine |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2007-02-07 |access-date=2015-08-27 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> This decision was criticized by ex-[[Lobster fishing|lobsterman]] [[Trevor Corson]] as damaging a New England tradition and as removing people's connection to where their food comes from.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corson |first=Trevor |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/dining_food_wine/articles/boiling_point |title=Boiling Point |magazine=[[Boston (magazine)|Boston Magazine]] |date=July 2006 |access-date=2007-02-12 |archive-date=2008-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203210809/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/dining_food_wine/articles/boiling_point/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022, Whole Foods said it would temporarily stop selling Maine lobsters due to sustainability issues and a possible risk to whales.<ref>Rachel Treisman, "[https://www.npr.org/2022/11/30/1139876157/whole-foods-maine-lobster-north-atlantic-right-whale Citing risk to endangered whales, Whole Foods hits pause on Maine lobster — for now]," NPR.org, 30 November 2022.</ref>

In May 2014, Whole Foods launched a pilot program to sell rabbit meat in 5 of its 12 market regions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/rabbits |title=Whole Foods Market Rabbit Standards Development Process |website=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Because domestic rabbits are the eighth most common pet in the United States<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Statistics/Pages/Market-research-statistics-US-pet-ownership.aspx |title=U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics |work=[[American Veterinary Medical Association]] |date=2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> as well as an animal rescued and sheltered alongside cats and dogs, this decision triggered a nationwide boycott of Whole Foods by the vegetarian activist House Rabbit Society and their supporters.<ref name="rabbit.org">{{cite web |url=http://rabbit.org/tell-whole-foods-to-stop-killing-bunnies/ |title=Tell Whole Foods to Stop Killing Bunnies! |work=[[House Rabbit Society]] |date=2014-07-16 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=2014-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727135129/http://rabbit.org/tell-whole-foods-to-stop-killing-bunnies/ |archive-date=2014-07-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2014 Whole Foods awarded a financial grant to Oz Family Farms,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://geyserville.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2014/06/photos/oz-family-farm-may-win-grant-whole-foods/ |title=OZ Family Farm wins grant from Whole Foods |newspaper=[[The Press Democrat]] |date=2014-06-20 |first=Deborah Mitchel |last=Serval |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619223703/http://geyserville.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2014/06/photos/oz-family-farm-may-win-grant-whole-foods/ |archive-date=2014-06-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a family-owned rabbit meat business.

In January 2015, a group of activists organized under the network [[Direct Action Everywhere]] (DxE) released a video of laying hens from a Northern California farm that supplies eggs to Whole Foods. In the video, which featured footage of crowded, dirty henhouses and injured birds, DxE contended that the hens' welfare was severely compromised, even though numerous boards had labeled the farm as "[[Humane Farm Animal Care#"Certified Humane Raised and Handled"|Certified Humane]]."<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU4PJCuslD0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/yU4PJCuslD0| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Truth Matters: DxE Investigators Expose "Humane" Fraud at Whole Foods |date=2015-01-07 |access-date=2015-01-25 |publisher=[[Direct Action Everywhere]] |via=[[YouTube]] |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2015, animal rights groups [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) and DxE released investigations criticizing Whole Foods animal welfare standards and accusing Whole Foods suppliers of [[animal cruelty]].<ref name=wp20150921>{{cite news |last=Moyer |first=Justin Wm. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/21/another-whole-foods-mess-peta-finds-abuse-at-pig-farm-linked-to-market/ |title=Another Whole Foods mess: Abuse alleged at pig farm linked to chain |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=2015-09-21}}</ref><ref name="WSJ">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/video-shows-abuse-at-whole-foods-turkey-supplier-activists-say-1448328713 |title=Video Shows Abuse at Whole Foods Turkey Supplier, Activists Say |date=2015-11-23 |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=2015-09-20 |first=Kelsey |last=Gee}}</ref> After the release of its investigation, PETA joined other animal welfare organizations in a letter to Whole Foods, writing that "Under the guise of compassion, Whole Foods is profiting from violence against animals."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directactioneverywhere.com/wf-letter-text |title=Letter to Whole Foods |publisher=Direct Action Everywhere |access-date=2015-09-20 |date=2016-01-28 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-date=2016-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923015619/http://www.directactioneverywhere.com/wf-letter-text |url-status=dead }}</ref> PETA co-founder [[Ingrid Newkirk]] also criticized Whole Foods' [[animal welfare]], arguing that supposed welfare failures indicate a need for [[animal rights]] rather than welfare.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/business/direct-action-everywhere-video-of-laying-hens-raises-concerns.html |title=Animal Rights Group's Video of Hens Raises Questions, but Not Just for Farms |date=2015-01-08 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=2015-01-12 |first1=Stephanie |last1=Strom |first2=Sabrina |last2=Tavernise |name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedodo.com/dear-whole-foods-animals-need-basic-rights-not-welfare-crumbs-1577883898.html |title=Dear Whole Foods: Animals need basic rights, not welfare crumbs |date=2016-01-29 |publisher=The Dodo |access-date=2016-09-20 |first1=Ingrid |last1=Newkirk }}</ref> Whole Foods has come under harsh criticism from [[Abolitionism (animal rights)|abolitionist]] vegans such as [[Gary L. Francione]] who view the company's policies as a betrayal of the [[animal rights]] position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/these-animals-are-our-dear-friends/ |title=These animals are our dear friends |author-link=Gary Francione |first=Gary |last=Francione |date=2008-09-21 |access-date=2009-03-16 |publisher=Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach}}</ref>

In 2015, during a PETA investigation of Whole Foods pork supplier Sweet Stem Farm LLC, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, video showed pigs living in a dark structure, not allowed access to the outdoors.  Some animals were shown lifted by their ears, lying sick or injured, and hauled away dead. In a statement, Whole Foods cited a commitment to their G.A.P. program and, after visiting the supplier, "did not see the issues PETA alleged."<ref>Laine Doss, "[https://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/peta-supporters-to-protest-whole-foods-market-claim-supplier-abused-pigs-8203881 PETA Supporters to Protest Whole Foods Market, Claim Supplier Abused Pigs]," Miami New Times, 27 January 2016.</ref>

Another Whole Foods supplier, Plainville Farms, was suspended from the G.A.P. program following the release of a video from a 2021 PETA investigation, showing turkeys being kicked, stomped and thrown by workers at Pennsylvania farms.<ref>Elizabeth Doughman, "[https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-future/article/15536626/11-plainville-farms-workers-charged-with-animal-cruelty 11 Plainville Farms workers charged with animal cruelty]," Watt Poultry, 6 October 2022.</ref> Law enforcement charged twelve men with 141 counts of animal cruelty, including six felonies, which marks the largest number of animal cruelty charges in a U.S. factory farm case.<ref>Anthony Mangos, "[https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/with-thanksgiving-on-the-horizon-pennsylvania-turkey-producer-charged-with-animal-cruelty/ With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Pennsylvania turkey producer charged with animal cruelty]," People’s World, 9 November 2023.</ref> Plainville said it would cooperate with the investigation, but PETA said the company was not doing enough to keep the public informed about how turkeys are raised.<ref>Philip Gruber, "[https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/peta-not-satisfied-with-plainville-farms-response-to-videos-alleging-turkey-abuse/article_d5980048-0a92-11ec-b776-17f055745dfb.html PETA Not Satisfied With Plainville Farms' Response to Videos Alleging Turkey Abuse]," Lancaster Farming, 7 December 2022.</ref> Two of the men charged pleaded guilty and were sentenced in 2023.<ref>Philip Gruber, "[https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/poultry/2-plead-guilty-in-turkey-abuse-case/article_5b326618-0c43-11ee-9210-278fa5cea2cc.html 2 Plead Guilty in Turkey Abuse Case]," Lancaster Farming, 16 June 2023.</ref>

Also in 2023, PETA called on Whole Foods to stop selling coconut milk from Thailand. The protest campaign followed a multi-year investigation, where PETA revealed that monkeys in Thailand are forced to climb tall trees for hours and to pick coconuts used to produce products such as milk, flour and oil.<ref name="nytimes.com">Christine Chung, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/world/asia/hellofresh-thai-coconut-milk-monkeys.html HelloFresh to Stop Buying Coconut Milk From Thailand Amid Claims of Monkey Labor]," ''The New York Times'', 16 March 2023.</ref> In November 2022, PETA released video showing monkeys chained to trees and forced to pick coconuts and workers beating some of them.<ref>"[https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/peta-protests-whole-foods-east-pasadena-over-sale-of-thai-coconut-milk PETA Protests Whole Foods East Pasadena Over Sale of Thai Coconut Milk]," Pasadena Now, 8 May 2023.</ref> The Thai Embassy subsequently reported that more than 25,000 retailers worldwide had since stopped carrying coconut milk from Thailand.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

=== Toxins ===
In February 2006, [[shareholders]] of Whole Foods filed a resolution asking Whole Foods to report toxic chemicals found in its products.<ref name=Baue>{{cite web |url=http://socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/1924.html |title=Shareowner Action on Product Toxicity Shifts from Isolated Resolutions to Become a Campaign |last=Baue |first=Bill |publisher=Socially Responsible Investing |date=2006-02-09}}</ref> Substances such as [[Bisphenol A]] (BPA), found in products such as baby bottles and children's cups, are controversial. Whole Foods no longer sells baby bottles and children's cups made with BPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/issues/bisphenol-a.html |title=Issues & Actions: Food Safety: Bisphenol-A |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2008-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010141214/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/issues/bisphenol-a.html |url-status=dead |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

In the wake of concern over the safety of seafood imports from China, on July 10, 2007, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that Whole Foods imports a small amount of frozen shrimp from China, accounting for less than 2% of the company's total seafood sales. A Whole Foods spokesperson addressed the issue, saying, "We're not concerned about the less than 2 percent. It's business as usual for us."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070901762.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=A Hole in the Food Safety Net? |first1=Renae |last1=Merle |first2=Xiyun |last2=Yang |name-list-style=amp |date=2007-07-10}}</ref>

In September 2018, Whole Foods was ordered to pay $1,643,500 due to "mishandling of hazardous wastes and materials included batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, and other flammable, reactive, and toxic materials" at its California stores over the prior five years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whole Foods to Pay $1.6 Million in Hazardous Waste Settlement {{!}} Yolo County District Attorney |url=https://yoloda.org/whole-foods-to-pay-1-6-million-in-hazardous-waste-settlement/ |website=yoloda.org |publisher=[[Yolo County, California]] |access-date=14 April 2025 |location=Woodland, CA |date=20 September 2018}}</ref>

== Public image and legal issues ==
[[File:Philly Supports Alabama Amazon Workers - Picket Line, March 5, 2021-002.jpg|thumb|Picketing in front of a Whole Foods Market in Philadelphia, PA]]
Whole Foods Market is considered anti-labor by most worker organizations, and it has been criticized that its products may not be as progressive as they are touted to be. Author [[Michael Pollan]] has contended that the supermarket chain has done well in expanding the organic market but has done so at the cost of [[local food]]s, regional producers, and distributors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newyorker.com/critics/content/articles/060515crat_atlarge |title=Paradise Sold |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=2006-05-15 |first=Steven |last=Shapin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613022347/http://www.newyorker.com/critics/content/articles/060515crat_atlarge |archive-date=2006-06-13 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Parts of the debate have taken place publicly through a series of letters between Pollan and Whole Foods CEO [[John Mackey (businessman)|John Mackey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=John Mackey's Blog |url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog |website=Whole Foods Market |access-date=14 February 2015 |first=John |last=Mackey |date=2015-04-10 |archive-date=2019-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717162532/https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ronnie Cummins, national director of the United States [[Organic Consumers Association]], opined that "Whole Foods Market now is a big-box retailer – and it's much more concerned about competing with the other big boxes than issues of ethics and sustainability."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/mar/27/supermarkets.usnews |title=Ripe target |last=Renton |first=Alex |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=2007-03-27}}</ref> Similarly, researcher [[Stacy Mitchell]] of the New Rules Project argues that the corporation's aggressive marketing of local food is more hype than substance.<ref name=bollard2007 />

Whole Foods has frequently been the subject of resistance or boycotts in response to proposed store locations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.organicguide.com/organic/news/whole-foods-controversy-at-jamaica-plain/ |title=Whole Foods' controversy at Jamaica Plain |website=Organic Guide |date=2011-01-21 |access-date=2014-02-26 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006011706/http://www.organicguide.com/organic/news/whole-foods-controversy-at-jamaica-plain/ |archive-date=2011-10-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/02/25/possible-midtown-whole-foods-stirring-controversy-among-businesses/ |title=Possible Midtown Whole Foods Stirring Controversy Among Businesses |date=2014-02-25 |access-date=2014-02-26 |first1=Derek |last1=Shore |publisher=[[CBS]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/mayor-opposes-controversial-west-seattle-whole-foo/nYsDJ/ |title=Mayor opposes controversial West Seattle Whole Foods project proposal |date=2013-07-17 |access-date=2014-02-26 |last1=Ham |first1=David |publisher=[[KIRO-TV]] |archive-date=2014-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105133158/http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/mayor-opposes-controversial-west-seattle-whole-foo/nYsDJ/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2013/11/beverly-whole-foods.html |title=Whole Foods signs a lease in Beverly with controversy and hurdles ahead |first1=Galen |last1=Moore |access-date=2014-02-26 |date=2013-11-11 |publisher=[[Boston Business Journal]]}}</ref> The corporation has also been criticized for its aggressive policy of promoting its own in-house brands (e.g., 365) at the expense of smaller or local independent brands.<ref name=bollard2007>{{cite news |url=http://thebollard.com/2007/09/05/whole-foods-markup/ |title=Whole Foods Markup |magazine=[[Mainer (magazine)|The Bollard]] |date=2007-09-05 |first=Stacy |last=Mitchell}}</ref>

On August 11, 2009, Whole Foods co-founder and CEO John Mackey published an editorial in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' criticizing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]];<ref name=wsj-2009-08-11 /> the editorial was controversial in the natural foods community.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/08/the-whole-foods-controversy-in-15-minutes/348385/ |title=The Whole Foods Controversy in 15 Minutes |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |date=2009-08-17 |first=Heather |last=Horn}}</ref> On December 24, 2009, Mackey resigned from the position of chairman of the board of the company, a position he held since 1978. On his blog, he wrote, "John Elstrott will now take the title of Chairman of the Board, which will accurately reflect the authority and the responsibilities that he has had for many years." Mackey remains a member of the board of directors as of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Mackey's blog: Latest 8K Filing|url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/latest-8k-filing|access-date=August 29, 2012|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915121011/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/latest-8k-filing|url-status=dead}}</ref> Whole Foods's current CEO is Jason Buechel.

The company has created other controversies at various times involving business practices, labor issues, product selection, and failure to support farmers and suppliers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://michaelbluejay.com/misc/wholefoods.html |title=What's wrong with Whole Foods? |website=Michael Bluejay (blog) |first=Michael |last=Bluejay |date=<!--undated-->}}</ref> In March 2013, Whole Foods promised to label GMO-containing products in North American stores by 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/whole-foods-gmo-labeling-2018_n_2837754 |title=Whole Foods GMO labelling to be mandatory by 2018 |first=Carey |last=Polis | work=[[HuffPost]] |date=August 3, 2013}}</ref> The company has drawn criticism for questionable science behind the claims of benefit of its products,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/23/whole-foods-america-s-temple-of-pseudoscience.html |title=Whole Foods: America's Temple of Pseudoscience |date=2014-02-23 |access-date=2014-02-26 |first1=Michael |last1=Schulson |newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2006/03/is_whole_foods_wholesome.html |access-date=2014-02-06 |first1=Field |last1=Maloney |publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |title=Is Whole Foods Wholesome? |date=2006-03-17}}</ref> including encouraging and selling drugs that are described to work under [[homeopathic]] principles.

In 2013, two workers in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], were suspended for speaking Spanish. The resulting investigation revealed that Whole Foods has a policy of speaking "English to customers and other Team Members while on the clock".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/whole-foods-2-nm-workers-214933764.html |title=Whole Foods, 2 NM workers clash over suspension |first1=Russell |last1=Contreras |date=2013-06-07 |access-date=2014-02-26 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbclatino.com/2013/06/06/opinion-whole-foods-english-only-policy-is-clueless-and-wrong/ |title=Opinion: Whole Foods' English-only policy is clueless and wrong |first1=Julio Ricardo |last1=Varela |date=2013-06-06 |access-date=2014-02-26 |website=NBC Latino |publisher=[[NBC]] |archive-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302155017/http://nbclatino.com/2013/06/06/opinion-whole-foods-english-only-policy-is-clueless-and-wrong/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company soon revised this policy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/06/14/whole-foods-revises-employee-language-policy/ |title=Whole Foods Revises Employee Language Policy |first1=Russell |last1=Contreras | work=[[East Bay Times]] | date=June 14, 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, Whole Foods agreed to pay an $800,000 settlement in response to allegations that its California stores were charging more per weight than what its labels indicated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.care2.com/greenliving/whole-foods-caught-overcharging-in-ca.html |title=Whole Foods Caught Overcharging in CA |work=Care2 |first=Jordyn |last=Cormier |date=2014-06-24 |access-date=2014-06-29 |archive-date=2017-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207052136/http://www.care2.com/greenliving/whole-foods-caught-overcharging-in-ca.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company continued this practice{{Where|date=November 2024}}  despite the settlement, with investigators alleging thousands of continued violations well into 2015.<ref name=continued_overcharging>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Jim |title=Whole Foods accused of overcharging customers for prepackaged foods |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/whole-foods-accused-of-overcharging-customers-for-prepackaged-foods/article25099230/ |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=2015-06-25 |date=2015-06-25}}</ref> In 2015, the CEOs made a public admission of the practice happening in New York after a [[New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection|New York City Department of Consumer Affairs]] investigation.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2015/07/02/whole-foods-ceos-admit-to-overcharging.html |title=Whole Foods CEOs admit to overcharging, say it was unintentional |last=Theis |first=Michael |date=2015-07-02 |work=[[Austin Business Journal]] |access-date=July 3, 2015}}</ref>

Whole Foods has faced other lawsuits in California over the presence of [[carcinogen]]s. In March 2008, following a study by the [[Organic Consumers Association]], reports of high levels of [[1,4-Dioxane]] found in body care products at Whole Foods prompted the [[Attorney General of California]] to file a lawsuit against the company for a violation of [[Proposition 65]].<ref name="TransWorldNews" /> Civil penalties of up to $2,500 a day were expected to be awarded. The action claimed that 365, along with brands sold by other cosmetic companies, did not include a label warning about the chemical; spokesperson Libba Letton stated that the company did "not believe that these products represent a health risk or are in excess of California's Proposition 65 Safe Harbor level for 1,4-Dioxane" while consumer activist [[David Steinman]] urged them "to stop treating the inclusion of cancer-causing chemicals in their products as 'business as usual.'"<ref name="TransWorldNews">{{cite news |url=http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52631&ret=AccountDtl.aspx |title=California Suit Against Whole Foods for Carcinogen in Body Care Products, with Corporate Puff Response from CEO John Mackey and the Truth from Nutritionist Cheryl Rounds |work=TransWorldNews, Inc |date=2008-06-13 |access-date=2010-04-01 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-date=2008-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730053913/http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52631&ret=AccountDtl.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/06/09/daily27.html |title=Whole Foods, others named in suit filed by California AG over carcinogens |publisher=[[Austin Business Journal]] |date=2008-06-11 |access-date=2010-04-01 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Proposition 65 was invoked again in 2013 when the state again sued Whole Foods, and other retailers over the presence of [[lead]] in certain candies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/05/01/calif-sues-whole-foods-trader-joes-over-lead-found-in-ginger-plum-candies/ | title=Calif. Sues Whole Foods, Trader Joe's Over Lead Found In Ginger, Plum Candies | agency=[[Associated Press]] | publisher=[[CBS News]] | date=May 1, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, SJ Collins Enterprises, a developer who often works with Whole Foods, petitioned the [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]] board of county commissioners to allow the removal of a five-acre protected [[wetlands]]<ref name="lecoz">{{cite news |last=Le Coz |first=Emily |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160415/ARTICLE/160419727/ |title=Whole Foods speaks out on proposed development7 |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald Tribune]] |date=2016-04-15 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Short |first=Jack |url=http://www.yourobserver.com/article/whole-foods-project-may-get-bogged-down |title=Whole Foods project may get bogged down |newspaper=Sarasota Observer |edition=East County |date=2015-12-16}}</ref> so that they could build a surface parking lot for a planned Whole Foods shopping center and [[Wawa Inc.|Wawa]] gas station at the intersection of University Parkway and Honore Avenue. The county commission voted 4–1 to allow the re-zoning and accept 41 acres of replacement wetlands.<ref>{{cite news |last=Le Coz |first=Emily |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160126/ARTICLE/160129676/2107/BUSINESS?Title=University-Parkway-Whole-Foods-plan-OK-d&tc=ar |title=University Parkway Whole Foods plan OK'd |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |location=Sarasota, Florida |date=2016-01-26 |url-access=subscription }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The lone commissioner voting against the proposal, Charles Hines, stated that approval of the petition could create a [[domino effect]] leading to the destruction of other protected areas.<ref name="hackney">{{cite news |last=Hackney |first=Rachel Brown |url=http://sarasotanewsleader.com/whole-foods-planning-on-new-store-opening-in-the-summer-of-2017/ |title=Whole foods planning on new store opening in the summer of 2017 |newspaper=Sarasota News Leader |date=2016-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Tom |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160127/columnist/160129632?fb_comment_id=fbc_1203506886343836_1203637839664074_1203637839664074&tc=ar#f3e98316b8 |title=Lyons: Wetland to become Whole Foods parking lot |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald Tribune]] |location=Sarasota, Florida |date=2016-01-27 |archive-date=2016-02-03 |access-date=2016-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203221500/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160127/columnist/160129632?fb_comment_id=fbc_1203506886343836_1203637839664074_1203637839664074&tc=ar#f3e98316b8 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Citizens for Sarasota County |url=http://sarasotavision2050.blogspot.com/2016/01/there-is-lot-of-growth-we-cant-stop-it.html |title=There is a lot of growth; we can't stop it anymore |location=Sarasota, Florida |date=2016-01-27 |website=Sarasota Vision 2050 (blog) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

In June 2016, US food safety inspectors warned the company that violations discovered at Whole Foods' [[Everett, Massachusetts]], plant could result in food being "contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health."<ref name="reut1">{{cite news|title=Whole Foods to shut three regional kitchens|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-whole-foods-closure-idUSKBN15A09H|access-date=26 January 2017|work=Reuters|date=26 January 2017}}</ref>

In April 2018, Whole Foods Market faced social media backlash over the opening of the third location of the independent restaurant chain, "Yellow Fever," in a Whole Foods 365 store in [[Long Beach, California]], for possible racist undertones.<ref>{{cite news |title=Whole Foods Sparks Controversy By Partnering With 'Yellow Fever' Restaurant | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/whole-foods-yellow-fever-twitter-controversy_n_5ae4aadee4b02baed1baacab |first=Doha |last=Madani |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=April 29, 2018}}</ref>

In April 2020, ''[[Business Insider]]'' revealed extensive monitoring of stores to identify and target [[unionization]], using a metric based on [[racial diversity]], employee loyalty, [[turnover (employment)|turnover]] and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-tracks-unionization-risk-with-heat-map-2020-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707235819/https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-tracks-unionization-risk-with-heat-map-2020-1|archive-date=7 July 2020|title=Amazon-owned Whole Foods is quietly tracking its employees with a heat map tool that ranks which stores are most at risk of unionizing|last=Peterson|first=Hayley|website=Business Insider|date=2020-04-20|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>

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In June 2020, two employees said they were sent home for wearing masks that stated "I can't breathe" and "Black Lives Matter".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Whole Foods Employees Protest Policy Banning Black Lives Matter Face Masks|website=[[Newsweek]]|date=26 June 2020|url=https://www.newsweek.com/whole-foods-employees-protest-black-lives-matter-face-masks-1513657}}</ref> A Whole Foods spokesperson stated that "all Whole Foods Market Team Members have signed acknowledgments of our longstanding company dress code, which prohibits any visible slogans, messages, logos or advertising that are not company-related, on any article of clothing, including face masks".<ref name=":1" />

In November 2020, Whole Foods banned Canadian employees from wearing a [[Remembrance poppy#Canada|Remembrance Day poppy]], the national symbol of remembrance worn by Canadians on [[Remembrance Day#Canada|Remembrance Day]].<ref>{{cite news | date = November 6, 2020 | title = Whole Foods Supermarket Bans Poppies on Employees Uniforms | url = https://www.cheknews.ca/whole-foods-supermarket-bans-poppies-on-employees-uniforms-716307/ | work = CHEK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Launch of the 2019 National Poppy Campaign | publisher = Government of Canada | date = October 15, 2019 | url = https://www.gg.ca/en/activities/2019/launch-2019-national-poppy-campaign}}</ref> On November 6, 2020, the [[House of Commons of Canada]] unanimously adopted a motion "to condemn Whole Foods and its owner Jeff Bezos for banning its employees from wearing poppies on their uniform".<ref>{{cite news | last = Connolly | first = Amanda | date = November 6, 2020 | title = Whole Foods Doubles Down Amid Firestorm Over 'Disgraceful' Ban on Staff Wearing Poppies | url = https://globalnews.ca/news/7446467/whole-foods-poppy-ban/ | work = Global News}}</ref> The same day, Whole Foods reversed its policy, saying "Given the learnings of today, we are welcoming Team Members to wear the poppy pin in honour of Remembrance Day."<ref>{{cite news | last = Forani | first = Jonathan | date = November 6, 2020 | title = Whole Foods reverses ban on staff wearing poppies after outcry | url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/article/whole-foods-reverses-ban-on-staff-wearing-poppies-after-outcry/ | work = CTV News}}</ref>

Whole Foods has been criticized for "[[humanewashing]]", or misleading animal welfare labeling, on its meat, dairy, and egg products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.farmforward.com/take-action/end-whole-foods-humanewashing/|title=End Whole Foods Humanewashing|website=Farm Forward}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investigations.peta.org/whole-foods-humane-meat-exposed/|title=Whole Foods 'Happy Meat' Supplier Exposed|website=PETA Exposés and Undercover Investigations}}</ref> In 2024, international farmed animal protection organization [[Mercy For Animals]] accused Whole Foods of humanewashing and lacking transparency regarding the company's plans for fulfilling its pledge<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/whole-foods-commits-chicken-standards-133155431.html|title=Whole Foods Commits to New Chicken Standards|date=March 18, 2016|website=Yahoo Finance}}</ref> to stop sourcing fast-growing [[Broiler|broiler chicken]] breeds, also known as "Frankenchickens",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66721642|title=Frankenchicken, farming and the cost of living crisis|date=September 8, 2023|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref> by 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frankenchickens.com/|title=Frankenchickens. Bred to Suffer.|website=frankenchickens.com}}</ref> Whole Foods' 2023 impact report states that higher-welfare breeds constituted only 4.42% of fresh chicken units sold in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://assets.wholefoodsmarket.com/www/missions-values/WFM_Impact_Report_2023.pdf | title=2023 Impact Report | publisher=Whole Foods Market | website=assets.wholefoodsmarket.com}}</ref> just one year before the company's commitment deadline for reaching 100%. Despite continuing to tout its pledge, Whole Foods has yet to add a time-bound plan for implementing its breed policy to its public chicken welfare roadmap.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/quality-standards/statement-on-broiler-chicken-welfare|title=Statement on Broiler Chicken Welfare|website=Whole Foods Market}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==
Whole Foods Market was included in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2007/full_list/ |title=100 Best Companies To Work For 2007 |date=2007-01-22 |magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> yearly from the list's inception in 1998 to being placed number 44 in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2014/list/ |title=100 Best Companies to Work For |magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |year=2014 |access-date=2015-08-27 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The chain has also won a number of awards for social responsibility including a first-place ranking by Harris Interactive / The Wall Street Journal in 2006<ref name=WSJ2>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB117019715069692873 |title=How Boss's Deeds Buff a Firm's Reputation |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2007-01-31 |access-date=2011-10-27 |last=Alsop |first=Ronald |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and British trade magazine ''[[The Grocer]]'' named it the "World's Greatest Food Retailer" the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whatsinstore.blogs.heraldtribune.com/2015/02/13/whole-foods-opening-second-store-sarasota/ |title=Update: Whole Foods opening second store in Sarasota |first=Justine |last=Griffin |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |date=2015-02-13 |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-date=2015-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913174925/http://whatsinstore.blogs.heraldtribune.com/2015/02/13/whole-foods-opening-second-store-sarasota/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk/assets/news/20061204_PR_Award.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208222438/http://www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk/assets/news/20061204_PR_Award.html |url-status=dead |date=2006-12-01 |archive-date=2006-12-08 |access-date=2015-08-27 |title=Booths Voted One Of World's Greatest Food Retailers |work=[[Booths Supermarkets]] |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> It has received past spots on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list published by ''Corporate Responsibility Officer''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/100-best-corporate-citizens/ |title=CR Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens "Way Off Base" |first=BC |last=Upham |date=2010-03-25 |access-date=2015-08-27 |work=TriplePundit |archive-date=2015-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121055538/http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/100-best-corporate-citizens/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, ''Supermarket News'' ranked Whole Foods number 19 on its list of "Top 75 North American Retailers."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-26 |title=2014 Top 75 U.S. and Canadian Food Retailers and Wholesalers |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/top-75-retailers-wholesalers/2014-top-75-us-and-canadian-food-retailers-and-wholesalers |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Supermarket News |language=en}}</ref>

== Labor relations and anti-union activism ==
Among its core values, the company lists "supporting team member happiness and excellence."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/corevalues.html |title=Core Values |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-08-28 |archive-date=2008-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306184518/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/corevalues.html |url-status=dead |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The company maintains that its treatment of workers obviates the need for [[labor union]]s: At its U.S. stores, after 800 service hours, full-time workers are given an option to purchase [[health insurance]] coverage starting at $20 per paycheck for themselves, and spouse and dependent coverage for an additional charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers/benefits_us.php |title=Whole Foods Market Benefits |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=2015-08-28 |archive-date=2012-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716103354/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers/benefits_us.php |url-status=dead |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name="MaloneySlate">{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2006/03/is_whole_foods_wholesome.html |title=Is Whole Foods Wholesome? The dark secrets of the organic-food movement |first=Field |last=Maloney |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=2006-03-17}}</ref>

Whole Foods' health insurance plan is notable for its high deductibles – $2000 for general medical expenses and $1000 for prescriptions. However, employees receive $300 to $1800 per year (depending on years of service) in personal wellness funds. Once an employee has met the deductibles, insurance covers 80% of general medical costs and prescriptions but not for any type of [[Mental healthcare in the United States|mental illness]].<ref name="dkkauwe-commondreams-comment">{{cite web |url=https://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/13-0?page=7 |title=Boycott Whole Foods |first=Russell |last=Mokhiber |work=[[Common Dreams NewsCenter|Common Dreams]] |date=2009-09-25}}</ref> CEO Mackey drew attention to the insurance program (offered through [[UnitedHealthcare]] in the US) for its employees in an op-ed in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref name=wsj-2009-08-11>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070 |title=The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare: Eight things we can do to improve health care without adding to the deficit |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2009-08-11 |access-date=2013-08-03 |first=John |last=Mackey |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In the article he called his company's insurance plan a viable alternative to "Obamacare". Mackey summed up his antipathy toward universal coverage in his [[op-ed]] by stating:

<blockquote>A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic [[right to health care]], food, or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This "right" has never existed in America.</blockquote>

A "Boycott Whole Foods" page on Facebook was created in response to John Mackey's position on health care.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112035655 |title=Health Care Uproar Swallows Whole Foods |date=2009-08-19 |first=John |last=Burnett}}</ref>

Mackey, a [[libertarianism|libertarian]], believes that unions facilitate an adversarial relationship between management and labor.<ref name=marketplace /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_QNNNTTV |title=John Mackey's Wal-Mart for the granola crowd |publisher=[[The Economist]] |date=2005-07-28 |access-date=2015-08-28 |archive-date=2007-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112200453/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_QNNNTTV |url-status=dead |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> An attempt at unionizing in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], in 2002 was met with resistance from store management, and Labor activists accused whole Foods of [[union busting]]. Employees at the Madison store voted in favor of unionization. Whole Foods then refused to bargain with its employees. After a year, the company moved to decertify the union. Further attempts at unionizing Whole Foods Market stores have been unsuccessful. Whole Foods launched a nationwide campaign, requiring workers to attend "Union Awareness Training," complete with PowerPoint presentations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/9/729575/-|title=Whole Foods is anti-union|website=Daily Kos}}</ref>

Whole Foods was criticized for its refusal to support a campaign by the [[United Farm Workers]] (UFW) on behalf of agricultural workers laboring on strawberry farms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/prism/may98/whole.html |title=Whole Foods Plays Dirty |last=Oritz |first=Paul |newspaper=The Prism |date=May 1998 |via=[[ibiblio]]}}</ref> During the late 1990s, the UFW persuaded several supermarket chains to sign a pledge in support of improved wages and working conditions for strawberry pickers. Whole Foods chose instead to support the farm workers indirectly by holding a "National 5% Day" where five percent of that day's sales – $125,000 – was donated to organizations that provide social services to farmworkers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/09.03.98/wholefoods1-9835.html |title=Whole Foods Fight |newspaper=[[Metro Santa Cruz]] |date=1998-09-03 |first=Eric |last=Bates}}</ref>

In September 2015, Whole Foods announced layoffs of 1,500 jobs, 1.6 percent of its workforce, to lower prices. Over the next two months, the eliminated jobs would come from regional and store positions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gasparro |first1=Annie |title=Whole Foods to Cut 1,500 Jobs |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/whole-foods-to-cut-1-500-jobs-1443442644 |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=2015-09-29 |date=2015-09-28}}</ref>

Whole Foods hired the Labor Relations Consulting or "[[union busting]]" company Kulture Consulting, LLC on May 23, 2016. This was in response to a union election at a Whole Foods distribution center in Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@MatthewTHunt/whole-foods-hired-far-right-wing-activist-as-union-buster-dd46bee7c854|title=Whole Foods Hired Far-Right Wing Activist as Union Buster|last=Hunt|first=Matthew|date=2018-06-08|website=Medium|access-date=2018-06-09}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2024}} A member of the [[National Labor Relations Board]] (NLRB) wrote that Kulture's CEO and founder Peter List had "in his effort to 'persuade' workers...engaged in 'patently unlawful' activities" during a 2007 organizing campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://truthout.org/articles/a-primer-on-the-antiunion-campaign-at-volkswagen/|title=A Primer on the Antiunion Campaign at Volkswagen|work=Truthout|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2019, Whole Foods announced it would cut the health benefits of part-time workers, affecting 2% of the workforce or 1,900 employees.<ref>{{cite news |last= Bryan|first=Bob|date= September 13, 2019|title=Amazon-owned Whole Foods' decision to drop health benefits for hundreds of part-time workers reveals how promises to workers like CEO Jeff Bezos' recent pledge are worthless|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-healthcare-amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-promises-business-roundtable-2019-9|work=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=September 16, 2019 }}</ref>

In January 2025, a Whole Foods in Philadelphia voted to form a union. In April, several open union supporters were fired and alleged that their termination was retaliatory, and they were targeted due to their support of the unionization campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez-Castells |first=Ariana |date=2025-04-23 |title=A Whole Foods in Philadelphia unionized in January. Now, the store is firing workers. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/whole-foods-union-workers-fired-philadelphia-20250423.html |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}</ref>

== Management system ==

=== Employee structure and culture ===
Whole Foods Market consists of twelve geographic regions, each with its own president, regional administrative team, store-level leadership, and store-level team members. A 4-tier hierarchy of employment exists within the Whole Foods Company: Store Employment, Facilities Employment, Regional Offices, and Global Headquarters.

=== Employee benefits and incentives ===
To help employees learn about products, the company has instituted a mentoring program and developed an [[online portal]] called "Whole Foods Market University" to aid in training. Internal parlance refers to "team leaders" instead of "managers," and stores sometimes offer prizes for competing teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/MsChevalier/talent-development-whole-foods |title=Talent Development Whole Foods |first=Alysia |last=Chevalier |date=2012-03-06 |access-date=2015-08-27 |website=[[SlideShare]]}}</ref> A 2014 analysis of 2012 figures found that Whole Foods Market was "among the least generous companies" in terms of its [[401(k)]] savings program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-07-24/401-k-s-which-companies-have-the-best-retirement-plans |title=Who's got the best retirement plan? |first1=Margaret |last1=Collins |first2=Carol |last2=Hymowitz |name-list-style=amp |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=2014-07-24 |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

Whole Foods Market has an [[employee discount]]; while all employees are provided a standard base discount rate of 20% on all store purchases, higher rates, up to 30%, can be earned based on employee physical fitness health tests that are given yearly.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2011/05/18/5-reasons-why-its-great-to-work-at-whole-foods/ |title=5 reasons why it's great to work at Whole Foods |magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=2011-05-18 |first=Christopher |last=Tkaczyk}}</ref> These fitness exams are taken at the option of the employee.

=== Company structure ===
Whole Foods Market is composed of seventeen companies, each specializing in a different product. In the 1990s, while new stores were being opened, other natural food chain stores were being acquired for horizontal integration. This led to the Federal Trade Commission challenging the eventual merger with Wild Oats on the basis that it violated antitrust laws, essentially eliminating competition and inflating prices in the health foods market.<ref name="ftc">{{cite press release |publisher=[[Federal Trade Commission]] |title=FTC Consent Order Settles Charges that Whole Foods' Acquisition of Rival Wild Oats was Anticompetitive |date=2009-03-06 |access-date=2012-10-18 |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2009/03/ftc-consent-order-settles-charges-whole-foods-acquisition-rival |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

=== Subsidiary companies and suppliers ===
Whole Foods Market is based on a system of decentralized buying. Each vendor is approved at the regional level for corporate standards such as being [[Genetically modified food controversies|non-GMO]] and [[fair trade]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/information-potential-suppliers |title=Information For Potential Suppliers |work=Whole Foods Market |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Individual stores then decide which approved products to stock. They have a rolling ten-year distribution arrangement with [[UNFI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/02/19/how-whole-foods-transformed-its-relationship-with.aspx |title=How Whole Foods Transformed Its Relationship With United Natural Foods |first=Brian |last=Richards |date=2013-02-19 |work=[[The Motley Fool]]}}</ref>

== 365 by Whole Foods Market ==
{{main|365 by Whole Foods Market}}
[[File:365 WFM Logo (highres).png|thumb|365 by Whole Foods Market logo|158x158px]]

In June 2015, the company announced a millennial-focused, and more affordable version of its regular stores, called "365 By Whole Foods Market".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-whole-foods-20150611-story.html |title=Whole Foods names its 'hip' lower-cost stores 365 |last=Khouri |first=Andrew |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2016-05-20 |date=2015-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/06/11/whole-foods-names-new-chain-365/71055126/ |title=Whole Foods to name new 'streamlined' chain 365 |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=2016-05-20 |date=2015-06-11 |first=Roger |last=Yu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-whole-foods-chain-to-take-the-365-name-1434025780 |title=Whole Foods to Use '365' Name for New Sister Chain |last=Gasparro |first=Annie |date=2015-06-11 |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |issn=0099-9660 |access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref> In addition to using digital price tags, in-store communication was done through a smartphone app. The stores had the goal of [[zero waste]], which included donating leftover food, using LED lights, and using carbon dioxide–powered refrigeration cases.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcoexist.com/3058732/whole-foods-is-launching-a-budget-store-that-will-also-be-sustainable-and-zero-waste |title=Whole Foods Is Launching a Budget Store That Will Aim to Be Sustainable And Zero Waste |date=2016-04-11 |website=Co.Exist |language=en-US |access-date=2016-05-20 |first=Adele |last=Peters}}</ref> Jeff Turnas was president of the division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3058976/most-creative-people/the-whole-foods-playbook-for-reaching-new-markets |title=The Whole Foods Playbook For Reaching New Markets |date=2016-05-16 |magazine=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] |language=en-US |access-date=2016-05-20 |first=Sarah |last=Kessler}}</ref>

[[File:Whole Foods 365 Pumpkin solids.jpg|thumb|365 by Whole Foods Market private label brand|180x180px]]

The first 365 By Whole Foods Market store opened in May 2016 in the [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles|Silver Lake]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/business/whole-foods-scaled-down-365-store-has-robots-but-no-tattoo-parlor.html |title=Whole Foods' Scaled-Down 365 Store Has Robots, but No Tattoo Parlor |last=Strom |first=Stephanie |date=2016-05-11 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-whole-foods-365-20160511-snap-story.html |title=Whole Foods' first 365 store in L.A. is designed with ease in mind |last=Li |first=Shan |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2016-05-20 |date=2016-05-11}}</ref><ref name=lat-2016may25>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-365-store-opening-20160525-snap-htmlstory.html |title=First 365 by Whole Foods opens in Silver Lake. See how the prices compare |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2016-05-25 |first=Samantha |last=Masunaga}}</ref> In December 2018, the eleventh and twelfth stores were opened at almost the same time in [[Atlanta]] and in [[Decatur, Georgia]].<ref name="sn-2018dec12">{{cite news |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/whole-foods-365-makes-atlanta-debut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213001952/https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/whole-foods-365-makes-atlanta-debut |url-status=live |archive-date=December 13, 2018 |title=Whole Foods 365 makes Atlanta debut: Pair of new stores expands concept to a dozen locations |work=Supermarket News |date=2018-12-12 |first=Russell |last=Redman }}</ref> Only 12 stores had been opened by the time Amazon acquired its parent Whole Foods and growth of the chain was finally halted.

There were as many as twenty-two 365 stores under various stages of construction by early July 2017, progress at most of these construction sites came to a halt upon the news of the possible acquisition of the parent company by Amazon, and there was no information at the time if and when the construction at any of the building sites would resume.<ref name="ct-2017jul07">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-whole-foods-365-delays-0708-biz-20170707-story.html |title=Whole Foods' 365 store in Evergreen Park delayed, concept's future unclear |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2017-07-07 |first=Greg |last=Trotter}}</ref><ref name="fd-2017jul11">{{cite news |url=http://www.fooddive.com/news/grocery--whole-foods-halts-365-store-openings/446785/ |title=Whole Foods halts 365 store openings |website=Food Dive |date=2017-07-11 |first=Sandy |last=Skrovan}}</ref><ref name="cbj-2017jul10">{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2017/07/10/whole-foods-delays-cheaper-365-concept.html |title=Whole Foods delays cheaper 365 concept in suburban Chicago after Amazon deal |work=[[Chicago Business Journal]] |date=2017-07-10 |first=Gina |last=Hall}}</ref>

In January 2019, it was announced that the 365 by Whole Foods Market concept would be discontinued, but the existing locations would remain open.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2019/01/15/whole-foods-365-shelved/ |title=Whole Foods Shelves Its 365 Store Concept |magazine=Fortune |first=Hallie |last=Detrick |date=2019-01-15 |access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref> The following month, it was announced that all existing 365 stores would be converted into regular Whole Foods stores by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-whole-foods-drops-smallformat-365-store-name-193244333.html |title=Exclusive: Whole Foods drops small-format 365 store name |publisher=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |first=Krystal |last=Hu |date=2019-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eater.com/2019/2/27/18243123/whole-foods-365-stores-rip |title=Whole Foods Kills Its Millennial-Pandering 365 Stores |first=Erin |last=DeJesus |date=2019-02-27 |work=[[Eater (website)|Eater]]}}</ref>

Although the short-lived chain is long gone, the "365 by Whole Foods Market" moniker continues to be used by Whole Foods as a private label brand of low cost foods for both Whole Foods and Amazon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mashed.com/1546507/truths-whole-foods-365-brand/ |title=12 Facts Behind Whole Foods' 365 Brand |first=Brian |last=Boone |date=2024-04-05 |work=[[mashed.com]]}}</ref>

== Whole Foods Market Daily Shop ==
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS - PLEASE SPLIT THIS SECTION OFF AS A NEW ARTICLE WHEN IT GETS LARGE ENOUGH -->
<!-- [[Whole Foods Market Daily Shop]]] redirects here-->[[File:Produce_section_of_Whole_Foods_Market_Daily_Shop_NYC.jpg|thumb|Produce section of a Whole Foods Market Daily Shop in New York City]]
In March 2024, Whole Foods announced the roll out of a new chain of quick-shop-format stores in Manhattan later this year that is much smaller than previous formats by being between {{convert|7,000|sqft|m2}} and {{convert|14,000|sqft|m2}} in size and initially selling grab-and-go snacks, prepared foods including sandwiches, weekly essentials, seasonal produce, breads, alcohol, meat and seafood, and an in-store Juice & Java.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91048818/meet-whole-foods-new-mini-shop-coming-to-a-city-near-you |title=Meet Whole Food's new mini shop, coming to a city near you |date=2024-03-06 |magazine=[[Fast Company]] |first=Hunter |last=Schwarz}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://foodtradenews.com/2024/03/16/whole-foods-market-to-debut-daily-shop-in-manhattan-later-this-year/ |title=Whole Foods Market To Debut 'Daily Shop' In Manhattan Later This year |date=2024-03-16 |work=Food Trade News}}</ref> Juice & Java would offer customers made-to-order drinks, such as coffee, tea and smoothies, as well as soups, sandwiches and desserts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/03/04/whole-foods-market-daily-shop/72843535007/ |title=Whole Foods Market plans to launch smaller Daily Shops; first to open in New York in 2024 |first=Anthony |last=Robledo |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=2024-03-24}}</ref>

The new stores are going to be located in dense metropolitan areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brrarch.com/portfolio/grocery-stores/whole-foods-market/whole-foods-market-daily-shop/ |title=Whole Foods Market: Daily Shop Concept |work=BRR Architecture|date=24 October 2024 }}</ref>

This is not the first time that Whole Foods tried a small footprint concept. In 2019, Whole Foods previously trialed a short lived convenience store concept in Chelsea that was also called "Whole Foods Market Daily Shop".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ny.eater.com/2019/3/26/18282276/whole-foods-market-daily-shop-open-bodega-chelsea-nyc |title=Whole Foods Plants a Bodega-Like Shop in Chelsea |first=Carla |last=Vianna |date=2019-03-26 |work=[[Eater (website)|Eater]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-market-daily-shop-new-convenience-store-2019-5 |title=Whole Foods has a new convenience store that sells fresh organic fruit, pantry staples, and açai bowls — here's what it's like to shop there |first=Irene |last=Jiang |date=2019-05-17 |work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>

{{clear|right}}

== See also ==
* [[Specialty foods]]
* [[Sustainable business]]
* "[[Whole Foods Parking Lot]]" (song)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=John |year=2024 |title=''The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism''|publisher=[[BenBella Books]]|isbn=978-1637745120}}
* {{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Joshua Clark |year=2017 |title=From Head Shops to Whole Foods: The Rise and Fall of Activist Entrepreneurs |series=Columbia Studies in the History of U.S. Capitalism |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231171588 |oclc=974794470}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Mack |first=Adam |date=March 2012 |title=The Politics of Good Taste: Whole Foods Markets and Sensory Design |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/174589312X13173255802166 |journal=The Senses and Society |volume=7 |issue=1 |doi=10.2752/174589312X13173255802166 |pages=87–94|s2cid=153378228 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=John |author2=Raj Sisodia |year=2012 |title=Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WNP0R5gD40MC |location=Cambridge, Mass. |publisher=Harvard Business Review Press |isbn=9781422144206 |oclc=1089613438}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}

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