WHOLE FOODS
Whole Foods is a leading retailer of natural and organic foods, drinks and other pet and household products. Starting as one small store in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market now has over 270 locations across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Whole Foods began in 1978 when twenty-five-year-old college dropout John Mackey and Rene Lawson, his twenty-one-year-old girlfriend, borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas. Two years later, Mackey partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge SaferWay with Clarksville Natural Grocery. This sparked the opening of the original Whole Foods Market. Over the years, the company has grown into many branches through mergers and acquisitions.
Whole Foods Market sells only products that meet their self-imposed quality standards for being natural. Whole Foods favor minimally processed foods and products free from hydrogenated fats, preservatives, artificial flavors, colorings, and sweeteners.
Key Persons:
- John Mackey, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
- Glenda Chamberlain, Executive Vice President and Chief Finance Officer
- Walter Robb, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer
- Jim Sud, Executive Vice President of Growth and Business Development
Whole Foods is consistently ranked among the most socially responsible businesses. Whole Foods implements programs and activities that involve not only the company but also the consumers to campaign for social and environmental responsibility.
Whole Foods' involvement in environmental issues started in 1999 when it joined the Marine Stewardship Council, which campaigned for the responsible fishing practices and preservation of world fish resources. Because of this partnership, Whole Foods sells Marine Stewardship Council approved seafood only.
The company also implemented "Bring Your Own Bag Day," encouraging their customers to bring their own bags when they shop. They even offer a refund of at least 5 cents per bag. Reusing plastic bags (new or old, paper, fabric or plastic) at their stores is definitely a good step toward a better environment. Overall, the aim is to eliminate disposable, plastic grocery bags by Earth Day 2008 (the first U.S. supermarket to commit to doing so).
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment due to the fact that they can last for thousands of years without breaking down easily. Plastic bags also become a problem to marine life if thrown into bodies of water.
Whole Foods, together with environmental groups and local government, also supports recycling programs for printer cartridges and cell phones, and curbside recycling.
Whole Foods is also involved in protecting animals and promoting their welfare. In January 2005, Whole Foods created the non-profit Animal Compassion Foundation to help other producers alter their practices and raise animals naturally and more humanely.
Whole Foods Market was the first food retailer in the U.S. to adopt solar electric and lighting in 2002 in Berkeley, California. In 2003, the company announced that 24 of its stores in the Mid-Atlantic region have reduced electricity consumption by as much as 10% by joining a clean wind energy program. Compared to the average electricity consumption mix, Whole Foods Market's annual use of wind power will offset the release into the air of over 6 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and more than 43,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, a major contributor to acid rain and snow, regional haze and brown clouds that alter regional monsoon patterns, deposit acids, reduce photosynthesis, and damage plants.
Whole Foods Market has also adopted other energy-efficient and "green" practices at locations nationwide. In 2006, they proclaimed being 100% wind powered (by purchasing credits equal to 100% of its projected energy use for said year).
Through the years, Whole Foods has left an eco-friendly thumbprint. In the year 2006, the company was awarded with the top honor of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Green Leadership Award was also awarded to the company in the years 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Whole Foods Environment Resources
- Review the core values of Whole Foods at the Whole Foods official website.
- View Whole Foods on the Green Partner list of the EPA.
- View an article about Whole Foods' Ban of Plastic Bags.
- View a review of Whole Foods' environmental efforts at a blog post.