Whole Foods Market

Do you think John Mackey has a good strategic vision for Whole Foods? Why or

why not? What do you like/dislike about the company’s “Whole Foods, Whole

People, Whole Planet” motto? Do the motto and the principles underlying the

motto (case Exhibit 1) really matter at this company or are they just nice words

and window dressing? Explain.

We would give John Mackey an “A” for the job he has done in leading the task of developing a clear and

effective strategic vision for Whole Foods. What is there to dislike or to criticize?

The vision is very much in step with the growth or natural and organic foods, and the mounting interest

of consumers in nutritious foods, in helping advance the cause of long-term sustainable agriculture

methods, and in doing their part to promote a pesticide-free and healthier environment. Whole Foods is coming on strong at just the right time to emerge as not only the clear industry leader

in organic and natural foods but also as a company that can challenge traditional supermarkets on their

own turf.

The company’s “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet” slogan might at fi rst come across as

“pretentious” or “idealistic” or “pious pontifi cation” or “just a bunch of nice words” when students are

reading the fi rst few pages of the case. But by the end of the case, it should be apparent to them that the

slogan and core values defi nitely have an important and meaningful role in Whole Foods’ strategy, core

values, and operating practices. We think the slogan and the explanation of what it means in case Exhibit

1 very much mirrors what this company is really all about.

Both management and company personnel take the slogan and the core values set forth in Exhibit 3

very seriously—the core values are widely shared among company personnel and the company seems

to sincerely and systematically endeavor to operate the business in accord with the core values and the

beliefs embraced in the slogan. John Mackey’s quote in the...