Submitted by: Submitted by FOXYMOXY
Views: 234
Words: 494
Pages: 2
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 12/11/2013 10:03 AM
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...