Whole Foods Case Study

Whole Foods Markets is a retailer of natural and organic foods. The company was founded by current CEO John Mackey who partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge their two natural food stores, Saferway and Clarkville Natural Grocery, resulting in the opening of the original Whole Foods Market on September 20, 1980. They had a 12,500 square foot store manned by 19 staff members. With a passion this industry, Mackey devised great visions, values, and strategies to take Whole Foods Markets to the top of the list as the worlds leading retailer of natural and organic foods. Twenty eight years later, Whole Foods Market continue to hold their 256 stores, 54,000 employees, and thousands of products to the highest of standards to deliver the best in customer service and goods. (Thompson 24).

For more than twenty years, Whole Foods growth strategy was to expand by opening new stores and acquiring small owner operated stores. Whole foods started to make major acquisitions in 1992. This was a major factor in the growth of not only Whole Food but for the natural and organic food industry. Seeing how most of the natural food stores across the country were single store operations Whole Foods sought out to acquire ones that would be able to fulfill their needs and had the type of personnel they wanted to fit with the Whole Foods plan. In 2002, the strategy changed and Whole Foods began to open large stores (50,000 square feet and larger) rather than acquiring small stores that typically ran anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. In these stores, Whole Foods is trying to bring the world the best product line possible. They have a selection of over 30,000 natural, organic, and gourmet food and non food items. This is s...

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... recommendations for Whole Foods would be to continue to stand behind the core values and motto. John Mackey needs to be more careful with his ethical aspect of business. He was accused of posting several comments on a blog under an alias. The accusations said he was talking up the Whole Foods Company and disgracing Wild Oats. Whole Foods has set the bar high for other companies to make a difference for workers, customers, and the community. These kinds of accusations make people question a company. Last, my analysis shows that Whole Foods should continue to expand but be very selective of location. Continue to establish themselves in high income areas. With the growing trend of natural and organic foods the possibility for growth is still there. However, it costs 25 to 75 percent more to grow and market organic foods than those of conventionally grown items.