Whole Foods Market in 2008

Whole Foods Market in 2008:

Mission, Core Values, and Strategy

Assignment Questions

1. What are the chief elements of the strategy that Whole Foods Market is pursuing?

• Basically, people are always worried about looking and feeling their best so their biggest element in their strategy is that individuals who eat Whole Foods will live longer, healthier, more enriching lives.

• Sponsor the local farmers and ranchers to help ensure the better well-being for all individuals.

2. Is the strategy well matched to recent developments and conditions in the natural and organic foods segment of the food retailing industry?

a. Most definitely it is strategically match to recent developments. Recent developments are showing rapid growth in individuals turning over their lifestyle to become more healthy, which then entails natural and organic food.

3. 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 motto “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet?” Do the motto and the principles underlying it (Exhibit 1) really matter at this company or are they just nice words and cosmetic window dressing? Explain.

a. I think he has a good strategic vision, but what I think he is lacking is that many individuals can’t afford the higher priced food, thus they are willing to eat more junk food rather than what could actually be better for their well-being. Sometimes money plays a very large role. The biggest example I can give of this is Native Americans who receive Government funding for food. They are allowed a certain dollar amount pending on their income and the number of members within the household. Thus they tend to go for the less healthy stuff as they can buy more for the money. So he must be willing to make the competitive prices more affordable.

b. I think the motto could have been more appealing, right now it just seems as though they are words that don’t really sell the company. They should...