Whole Food Market

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

THE WHOLE STORY OF HEALTHY EATING

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I PROFILE

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

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Known for its uncompromising views with regards to quality of the products it stocks, Whole Foods Market holds its suppliers to the same standards that it employs in its own business model. In recognition of its suppliers, Whole Foods Market holds an annual award to show their appreciation.

“It is Whole Foods Market’s honour to celebrate our suppliers who have demonstrated fantastic cooperation, resilience, creativity and commitment to quality, rising to excellence in a year unlike any other,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Whole Foods Market.

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hole Foods Market is a business

W

had excelled themselves in the previous

dedicated to providing the

year. The award is split into three main

highest quality products and

categories; supplier of the year, pur-

service to its loyal customer base across

pose and core values, and quality and

the USA, Canada and has more recently

innovation, which in turn is awarded to

made steps into the UK market.

two types of recipients, both global and

The company’s supplier awards were set up in 2012 with the intention of hon-

regional suppliers.

“We’re honored to work with and cele-

ouring the company’s suppliers for their

brate the remarkable contributions of

outstanding achievements and have

these suppliers that embody Whole Foods

been run consistently for nine years

Market’s core values and consistently raise

highlighting ongoing commitments to

the bar in our industry,” said Don Clark,

quality, environmental stewardship,

Senior Vice President of Non-Perishables

organic integrity, innovation, purpose

Merchandising at Whole Foods Market.

and partnership.

“Their dedication to excellence, quality,

The most recent of the Whole Foods

innovation and partnership is critical to

Market Supplier Awards was held in May

our success and delivering on our mission

2021 to recognise those 42 suppliers who

to nourish people and the planet.”

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WHOLE FOODS MARKET

I PROFILE

There are a number of specialist subcategories under the supplier of the year category such as the Special Recognition award - this it is for suppliers that go above and beyond in helping Whole Foods Market grow and drive business as well as inspire and delight customers. One of the of the 2021 global winners under this sub-category is Great Range Bison, a company that not only provides Bison meat of the highest quality but also cares about the continued

large for the time, standing at an impres-

sustainability of the meat industry.

sive 10,500 sqft and employing 19 staff at a time when health food shops were fairly

The whole truth

uncommon – it was a resounding success

The brainchild of John Mackey and Renee

and set the trajectory that Whole Foods

Lawson, Whole Foods Market started in

Market has been on ever since.

1978 as a single small vegetarian natural

The company did not move outside of

foods store called SaferWay in Austin,

Austin until 1984, with the opening of fur-

Texas. The store in question was opened

ther locations, yet by the 1990s, Whole

with the help of a $48,000 loan being

Foods Market was enjoying rapid growth

given by family and friends.

as it acquired other organic and heath

It wasn’t all plain sailing. In the early years, they were evicted from their apartment

food chains across the USA. A far cry from those initial start up days,

when the landlord discovered they were

Whole Foods Market now has over 500

keeping vegetable stock on the premises,

locations spanning two continents and

which saw them move into the newly

employs 91,000 people across all facets

acquired retail premises. However because

of the monumental business.

it was zoned for commercial use, they

On September 30th 2021, founder John

had to bathe with a water hose attached

Mackey, revealed he is to step down as

to a dishwasher due to there being no

acting CEO. In an open letter Mr Mackey

shower stall in the building.

wrote: “Honestly, it’s very hard to retire

The Whole Foods Market brand as we

from a company that I have helped to

know it today first came into being two

create, nourish and grow for 44 years. As

years later in 1980, when Craig Weller and

a co-founder of Whole Foods, I’ve often

Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural

explained my relationship to the company

Grocery, partnered with the SaferWay

with a parent-child metaphor.

owners to create the first Whole Foods Market. This progenitor store was quite

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“As a parent, I have always loved Whole Foods with all my heart, I have done my

best to instil strong values, a clear sense

and auditing sourcing practices – all to

of higher purpose beyond profits, and

make shopping easier for you. Remember,

a loving culture that allows the company

if it doesn’t meet our standards, we don’t

and all our interdependent stakeholders

sell it.”

to flourish. All parents reach a time when

This ethos that natural is best also extends

they must let go and trust that the values

to the company’s views on the environ-

imparted will live on within their children.

ment and sustainability; as evidenced by

That time has nearly come for me and for

the recent launch of a certification program

Whole Foods.”

called Sourced for Good. The aim of this program is to promote and support responsible

The whole-istic approach to food

product sourcing – this encompasses advo-

Even in its modern form, Whole Foods

cating for environmental stewardship and

Market still upholds the original core values

making improvements in farmworkers’ lives.

that the company was founded under: its

“At Whole Foods Market, our Sourced

unwavering commitment to providing the

for Good products not only are good,

best natural and unprocessed goods. The

they do good,” said Karen Christensen,

company stated: “When you walk in our

Senior Vice President of Merchandising

doors, you’ll find vibrant stacks of produce,

for Perishables. “Our commitment to

animal welfare rated meat, Responsibly

equitable trade has funded numerous

Farmed and sustainable wild-caught

community projects – from dental clinics

seafood and body care products with

to housing facilities to student scholar-

ingredients you can trust. That’s because

ships to bird sanctuaries.

we have experienced team members who help make it all possible.

“They partner with farmers and suppliers

“By purchasing select products, customers help us in our goal to make a difference, and now with Sourced for

and carefully vet our products to make

Good, we’re offering shoppers an easier

sure they meet our high standards by

way to find these special products in

researching ingredients, reading labels

our stores.

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WHOLE FOODS MARKET

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Always one to recognise the current

any food in their shopping carts, and

trends, Whole Food Market has been

neither do we. The stories of how food is

quick to cater to the millennial demo-

produced and grown matter to them –

graphic, understanding that the quality of

and to us.

the product is one of the main driving forces

“That is why we ban more than a hundred

in their shopping habits and the fact that

ingredients in the food we sell. Going beyond

they are willing to pay for that quality.

the USDA requirements, we prohibit antibi-

A YouGov poll found that 80% of millen-

otics and added hormones for all meats

nials value quality in their food above all

in our meat department, and we only sell

and 70% of those were willing to pay more

sustainable wild-caught or responsibly

if the quality and provenance of the product

farmed seafood. Our standards drive the

could be assured. Furthering this fact is the

work we do.”

trend of transparency in shopping and food sourcing, particularly in the seafood and

The wholesome attitude to charity

fresh meat market; more than half of this

Whole Food Market is no stranger to

demographic said they will happily pay

charity either, having set up The Whole

more for produce whose supplier has

Planet Foundation in 2005. This charity

adopted responsible sourcing and animal

is dedicated to alleviating poverty and

welfare standards.

empowering the world’s poorest places by

“We’re always striving to better under-

using microcredit loans in locations where

stand our customers’ passions when it

Whole Food Market sources its products.

comes to food,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk,

Microloans are characterised by giving

Whole Foods Market’s Chief Marketing

comparatively very small loans to bor-

Officer. “Millennials don’t settle for just

rowers who are living in poverty, who

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lack the usual requirements for loans

The former was founded in 2011 and the

such as collateral, employment and

reason for its creation was to improve

a credit history. This method of charitable

children’s nutrition and connect them to

loan is to support entrepreneurship and

real food. The foundation has stocked

once it has been repaid, the loan can be

and donated salad bars to schools, as

sent to another person who needs it; it is

well as added environmental education

a proven method of alleviating poverty.

to the curriculum. The foundation has

Whole Food Market has said its foundation has already supported innovative and

served more than 8.2 million children and nearly 12,000 schools.

hardworking entrepreneurs all around the

The Whole Cities Foundation was

globe, most of which are woman who tra-

founded later in 2014 with the onus of

ditionally have access to fewer resources.

expanding access to healthy food and

Philip Sansone, President and Executive

nutrition education at a community level.

Director for Whole Planet Foundation said:

“Whole Foods Market’s higher purpose

“For a woman investing in her home-based

is nourishing people and the planet and

bakery, neighbourhood shop, small scale

one way we do this is through the work of

farm, or artisan goods she sells in a mar-

our Foundations,” said John Mackey. “As a

ketplace, a microcredit loan of $200 or

company, we deeply value giving back.

less can give her the chance to create or

Each of our stores has a unique way of

expand her business, and help lift her out

connecting with their local communities

of poverty.”

to best serve that community’s needs.

The Whole Planet Foundation is not alone

“Our foundations also support strategic

though; Whole Food Market has a roster

programs that make an impact where our

of three charitable foundation, the other

stores operate and source products across

two being Whole Kids and Whole Cities.

the globe.”

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