Lexi Phillips and Kaitlynn Stratton

Company History

• Premium priced, high quality, natural, organic super market

• Founded in 1980 in Austin, TX • John Mackey, Renee Lawson Hardy,

Craig Weller and Mark Skiles • 342 stores

Timeline • 1981 – wiped out by flood • 1984 – began expansion• 1989 – expanded to West coast • 1990’s – acquired 19 acquisitions and

mergers • 2002 – Canada• 2004 – United Kingdom• 2013 – Top 150 National Top

Workplaces, World’s Most Ethical Companies, Fortune’s Most Admired Companies

• 2014 – 100 Best Companies to Work For

Acquisitions and Mergers

Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet

“We strive to reach beyond food retailing. In fact, our deepest purpose as

an organization is helping support the health, well-being, and healing of both

people – customers, Team Members, and business organizations in general – and the

planet.”

Caring for Communities

Community giving exceeds 5% of total net profits each year

Strengths

• Strong cash flow and stock position• Affluent neighborhoods • Strong employee retention• Deli, Catering • Website

Weaknesses

• “Whole Paycheck”• Low employee efficiency • Luxury• Marketing costs of organic foods are

higher

Opportunities

• Health benefits of organic foods• Private label branding • Continue to expand internationally • Recent advertisements promoting

health

Threats

• Changes in economy – consumer spending

• Low spend per trip • Organic labeled items not strictly

regulated • Increase in competition

Sources

• www.wholefoodsmarket.com

• bear.warrington.ufl.edu/dinopoulos/ECP6701/projects/CS-Whole%20Foods-Web.ppt

• www.slideshare.net/Fortune10/whole-foods-market-project

• http://www.wikiswot.com/SWOT/2_Retail/Whole_Foods.html