Swot Analysis

S.W.O.T Analysis for Whole Foods Market 2010

Strengths:

* Effective communication

* High R&D

* Innovation

* Online growth

* Loyal customers

* Market share leadership

* Strong management team

* Strong brand equity

* Strong financial position

* Supply chain

* Pricing

* Reputation management

* Unique products

Weaknesses:

Highly-priced

* Diseconomies to scale

* Over leveraged financial position

* Low R&D

* Low market share

* No online presence

* Not innovative

* Not diversified

* Poor supply chain

* Weak, damaged brand

Opportunities:

Acquisitions

* Financial markets (raise money through debt, etc)

* Emerging markets and expansion abroad

* Innovation

* Online

* Product and services expansion

* Takeovers

Threats:

Competition

Government regulations

* Economic slowdown

* External changes (government, politics, taxes, etc)

* Exchange rate fluctuations

* Maturing categories, products, or services

* Price wars

Government and Public Affairs

Our stores are subject to various local, state, federal and international laws, regulations and administrative practices affecting our business. We must comply with provisions regulating health and sanitation standards, food labeling, equal employment, minimum wages, licensing for the sale of food, and in many stores, licensing for beer and wine or other alcoholic beverages. The manufacturing, processing, formulating, packaging, labeling and advertising of products are subject to regulation by various federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”), the USDA and the EPA. The composition and labeling of nutritional supplements are most actively regulated by the FDA under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FFDC Act”). The FFDC Act has been revised in recent years with respect to dietary supplements by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and by the...