Topic > Whole Foods Case Study - 1338

Whole Foods Markets is a natural and organic food retailer. The company was founded by current CEO John Mackey who partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to combine their two health 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 staffed by 19 staff members. With a passion for this industry, Mackey has crafted great visions, values ​​and strategies to bring Whole Foods Markets to the top of the list as the world's leading retailer of natural and organic foods. Twenty-eight years later, Whole Foods Market continues to hold its 256 stores, 54,000 employees and thousands of products to the highest standards to provide the best in service and merchandise to customers. (Thompson 24). For more than two decades, Whole Foods' growth strategy has been to expand by opening new stores and acquiring small owner-operated stores. Whole Foods began making major acquisitions in 1992. This was a major factor in the growth of not only Whole Food but also the natural and organic food industry. Seeing how most health food stores across the country were single-store operations, Whole Foods sought to acquire ones that could meet their needs and had the type of staff they wanted to fit the Whole Foods plan. In 2002, the strategy changed and Whole Foods began opening large stores (50,000 square feet and more) instead of acquiring small stores that typically ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. In these stores, Whole Foods is trying to bring the best product line possible to the world. They have a selection of over 30,000 natural, organic and gourmet food and non-food products. This is…middle of the paper…recommendations for Whole Foods would be to continue to uphold the core values ​​and motto. John Mackey needs to pay more attention to the ethical side of business. He was accused of posting several comments on a blog under a pseudonym. The charges said he was talking about 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 communities. These types of accusations lead people to question a company. Finally, my analysis shows that Whole Foods should continue to expand but be very selective in terms of location. Continue to settle in high-income areas. With the growing trend of natural and organic foods, the possibility for growth still exists. However, growing and marketing organic food costs 25 to 75 percent more than conventionally grown food.