Whole Foods Business Strategy

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INTRODUCTION: Understanding the Cultural Repertoire of Ethical Eating
Whole Foods Market (hereinafter known as WFM) is one of the most profitable health food retailers in the United States. It claims to be the first national “Certified Organic” grocer (Whole Foods Market, 2016). Since its incorporation in 1980, the company has expanded internationally (it has its existing operations spanning the U.S., Canada and the U.K). John Mackey, founded WFM by merging SaferWay with Clarksville Natural Grocery in Austin, exactly two years after opening SaferWay.
The company’s product selection is wide-ranging and it includes grocery, meat, seafood, prepared foods and catering, bakery, coffee, tea, wine, beer, cheese, vitamins, nutritional supplements, body care, and lifestyle products including pet products, books, and household products (Whole Foods Market, 2016). …show more content…

In early 2007, WFM announced its acquisition of Wild Oats Market, Inc., for nearly $565 million. This has been their largest acquisition till date, as Wild Oats Market was their largest competitor with a little over a billion a year in sales, slightly over 100 stores, and 8,500 plus employees (Whole Foods Market, 2008). As of 2016, WFM employed more than 91,000 team-members, with an increased sale of 8% to a record $15.4 billion, producing industry leading sales per gross square foot of $970 (Whole Foods Market, 2016).
In January 2016, WFM was ranked again on FORTUNE’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work for In America.” It is the only one of 12 companies to be ranked successively for 18 years. This certifies their responsibility towards their core principles of “Supporting Team Member Happiness and Excellence” (Whole Foods Market,