Whole Foods Market

"I started my journey with Whole Foods Market as a high school kid, not really knowing what I was getting into. My mother dropped me off at the nearest grocery store and said, 'they have a beautiful produce department, maybe you should work there …'. Twenty-four years later, I never left. I was able to work my way around the store, taking any role that sounded interesting, not knowing that I was building a set of experiences that would prepare me for a long-term career. After working on a couple of teams, in a couple of stores, I graduated college and decided to apply for a role in leadership. It was then that I realized the true power of our #TeamWFM culture and that I wanted to be a part of nourishing people and the planet for the rest of my career. I have held almost every role in the store, worked in Operational Areas and Store Support Operations, but the most impactful job I've had was Store Team Leader: Being tasked to serve a community of customers and Team Members is one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of my professional life. I know food can change the world, so beyond the functions I served as a Team Member, I began seeking more ways to contribute to that change. Becoming a Culture Champion gave me the resources to do that by serving this higher calling and being a part of the change that is needed. I felt a personal obligation to share with my fellow Team Members how impactful the work they do is and how they can connect to our culture in their own unique way. The pinnacle of my Culture Champion experience was the “In the Field With Jason” trip to Northern California. This trip allowed me to reconnect with the mission through experiences with producers, community partners and our CEO. It was proof that Whole Foods is still delivering on our commitment to our Purpose. There were so many impactful moments on this trip but If I had to summarize what I have taken from it and shared with anyone who will listen, it’s that Whole Foods remains committed to its higher purpose and all Team Members have an opportunity to ensure that we keep our culture thriving." -Michael D'Andrea, Executive Leader of Operational Improvement #Operations #Retail #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"Since joining Whole Foods Market in 2015, I have embarked on a rewarding journey filled with engagement, collaboration and growth. I have worked in various departments — from Bakery to Culinary to Seafood — progressing from Team Member to Venue Supervisor to Assistant Team Leader, and currently I am my store's Seafood Specialist. Along the way, I've had the chance to collaborate with a range of Team Members and engage with developmental resources, like our Career Development Associate Team Leader and Cultivate programs, all reinforcing my belief in the learning culture we have at Whole Foods.   One of the most fulfilling aspects of my career journey at Whole Foods Market was becoming a certified Culture Champion in 2019. In this role, I partner with our store leadership to foster an environment that energizes and empowers Team Members to bring their authentic ideas to the table. Collectively, we are a culture driven to share and serve by leaving things better than we found them, united by a shared love of food. In 2024, I had the honor of joining our CEO Jason Buechel and 15 fellow Team Members across various departments and roles to visit the Tsar Nicoulai Inc's Sturgeon Farm in Wilton, CA, as part of the "In The Field with Jason" Northern California trip. There, we learned that caviar is not inherently salty and that farm-raised sturgeons are more sustainable than their wild counterparts. I shared these valuable insights about aquaculture standards with fellow Team Members to champion sustainable practices through meaningful conversations. Tsar Nicoulai exemplifies its commitment to sustainability by employing innovative water conservation techniques and natural methods for producing high-quality caviar while minimizing environmental impact. These connections empower us, as Culture Champions, to positively influence our surroundings at Whole Foods and beyond, fostering a space where we can engage with our teams, fellow food enthusiasts, customers and communities. I recognize that career paths can vary in structure and progression, and it’s important to acknowledge that this diversity in trajectories is not only acceptable but can also lead to unique opportunities for growth — success is achievable when it aligns with your passions, personal timing and authenticity. I've found many opportunities here that have enriched my personal and professional experiences and expanded my skill set. Currently, I am pursuing educational opportunities through Whole Foods Market's partnership with Guild, a tuition-free education program that has guided me in a new direction while aligning with my diverse passions — here I grow :)"   - Genesis Lopez, Seafood Specialist #Seafood #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"People stick around for a long time at Whole Foods. There is something special about working with people you just 'click' with and who are equally as passionate about our Purpose; I’ve had that opportunity many times over. I’ve made many meaningful connections, and I think that sentiment is shared by the many who work here. There isn’t a Whole Foods in the Midwest I can't go into and not see a familiar face I worked with and the longer I stay, the less strangers I know. I started in 2010 as a part-time Team Member, opening our Schaumburg store here in the Midwest. After working in the restaurant industry for a few years, I was ready to find something more stable and with a better work-life balance. Whole Foods Market provided what I thought would be a good interim job while I figured out what I wanted to do. A decade and a half later, I'm still here. I ended up staying at Schaumburg and took part in the newly developed Butcher Apprentice Program which opened opportunities for me in the Meat department. After completing the program, I went on to be a Meat Associate Team Leader and Meat and Seafood Team Leader at five locations throughout Chicago and the Illinois suburbs. I later joined our Regional Operations team in 2017 as a point person for Meat and Seafood teams, and then in 2021, I accepted a role on the then Global Meat team as a Category Merchant. Last month I started my new role as a Principal Program Merchant for our operational partners to aid with programming, initiatives, and driving the strategy for local programs and supplier communities.   I’ve grown both personally and professionally in my time here, consistently engaged and exited with the work we do. How we maintain our commitment to providing the highest quality natural and organic meats while also improving the conditions of those born, raised and harvested is inspiring, especially when you see how it shifts the grocery industry as a whole: When I worked in the restaurant industry prior to Whole Foods, it was the only place I could go to if I wanted to source the same quality of meat my customers expected in a fine dining restaurant. Now, organic, grass-fed, and antibiotic-free meat can be found at almost every retailer in the country. As a parent, I really care about what my child consumes; being a part of a retailer who’s pushing the broader industry to provide better, healthier options for both people and the planet is just incredibly rewarding work."   - Corey Tolan, Principal Program Merchant – Meat #Merchant #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

Filled with the deepest gratitude for our Northern California hosts and partners — for the time, meals and conversations you shared with us. 💚 Tsar Nicoulai Inc Burroughs Family Farms Urban Remedy Petit Pot CityTeam Oakland FIREBRAND ARTISANS LIMITED #California #InTheField #NourishPeople #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #TeamWFM

There are so many great things happening at McCoy College of Business at Texas State University! Last week, our McCoy College graduate students were welcomed to a fantastic site visit at Whole Foods Market in Austin. A big thank you to Kim Vo for hosting us! We traveled via Bobcat Shuttle and learned about the history of the Whole Foods Market Foundation and its incredible community and global initiatives. We also heard about their Leadership Principles, fantastic internship opportunities, and inspiring career paths thanks to Ben White, Emily Holliman, and Ian Prier. Thank you Whole Foods Market for a great day!

I believe people want to reduce plastic consumption but retailers often don't provide the tools. Exciting to see Whole Foods Market stepping out and trying something new with Wonderfil and Dr. Bronner's! https://lnkd.in/gJrrxk48

We’re proud to announce new funding partnerships that are paving the way for economic growth and financial resiliency for micro-entrepreneurs around the globe. Together with our dedicated partners, we’re investing in initiatives that foster long-term sustainability and empower local solutions. These collaborations are driving real impact, and our latest blog shares the details on how this funding will help build stronger, more resilient communities. Heartfelt appreciations to our amazing partners for their commitment and support: Africa Works | Mozambique Boma | Kenya BRAC | Myanmar Camino Verde Peru | Peru Environomica Onlus | Colombia Farmerline Group | Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Benin Grassland Association for Agricultural Development | Cameroon Local Act | Thailand Munafa | Sierra Leone myAgro | Senegal, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire Sampurna Financial Services | India Trickle Up | India Village Enterprise | Uganda Read more in our latest blog and learn how we’re working together to create lasting change. https://lnkd.in/gM5rerJf

#ICYMI: Our doors are now open at the recently relocated Hyannis store on Cape Cod. 🎉  As the only Whole Foods Market on Cape Cod, we have been serving a bustling summer community and year-round residents alike for the last 10 years. Now, this 42,560-square-foot store offers better parking, a wider product selection and full-service meat and seafood counters – all wrapped within a calming, coastal design. Some of our highlights from the day: 🥐 The more than 600 faces that joined us early for an early morning celebration with locally roasted Jim's Organic Coffee and Pain D'Avignon Café Boulangerie 🤝 Donations made to five Cape Cod nonprofits, including Cape Kid Meals, Barnstable Land Trust, YARMOUTH FOOD PANTRY INC, and The Family Pantry of Cape Cod 🚐 Stuffing a newly donated Nourishing Our Neighborhoods van with Family Table Collaborative to aid their mission of ending hunger and improving nutritional security on Cape Cod by breaking down the barriers of access to both prepared meals and education 🦞 Shopping at the full-service seafood counter featuring only sustainable wild-caught or responsibly farmed seafood, a large selection of ready-to-cook options and local offerings from local suppliers Twin Light Smokehouse, Luke's Lobster and Raw Seafoods, Inc. 🥓 A full-service meat counter, with butchers available to cut steaks and poultry to order. Local options include pork from Overbrook Farms, bacon and sausages from North Country Smokehouse, LLC. and beef from Pineland Farms Inc. 🧼 Browsing the large assortment of wellness, beauty and lifestyle items in the Whole Body department stocked with local products like small-batch artisan soaps from Center Street Soap Co., candles from Cape Cod Soy Candles and body care from True Moringa 💚 Round of applause to all the Team Members, Store Team Leader Bill Earley and Associate Store Team Leaders Robert Croft and Jameson Sullivan for a great day!  Read more about the opening day: 🔗 : https://lnkd.in/gRfw47iJ #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

“In 2010, record labels started putting punk-rock music on the back burner, and my band started to slow down as our families and careers started to flourish. I was looking for a new path with purpose, and that’s when I found Whole Foods Market. Like many of us, I didn’t have a clear vision of my future and was interested in trying something new. I landed a part-time position in our Seafood department, where I learned about our culture, Quality Standards, and Core Values. I quickly realized that Whole Foods aligned with my personal values and decided to dive in! After transitioning to our Grocery department for a few years, I eventually became an Associate Store Team Leader in 2017 and a Store Team Leader in 2020. Now, after 14 years and six stores, I’m elated to be opening my first store in Boynton Beach as it’s resident Store Team Leader!   I found my new purpose, my new career, and my new “why” working at Whole Foods. The meaningful connections I’ve made here have had an overwhelmingly positive impact on my life, especially the sponsored volunteer trip to Togo, Africa, where I helped build a kindergarten and worked with Whole Foods Foundation recipients alongside fellow Team Members.   I stay because of the continued, genuine impact I can cultivate for my team, my customers and the communities we serve. I see our work making a real change in the world, and we do so much more than simply sell groceries. When I tell people that I work for Whole Foods Market, generally their first response is 'Oh, I love Whole Foods!' and I feel proud to be able to say it back. Boynton Beach days just got a little bit better — come and see us when we open!” - Ryan Loughney, Store Team Leader #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

“One of the best things I will take away is the amazing connection and lasting friendships we made. We were all bursting at the seams with energy, connection, unity, passion and love.” - Danielle Schmidt, Store Trainer 💚💚💚 This year's first "In the Field with Jason" trip took us to Northern California, where 15 Team Members came together and witnessed our aquaculture standards first-hand, deepened their understanding of our commitment to local suppliers and took part in a day of service with one of our Nourishing our Neighborhood partners. #California #InTheField #NourishPeople #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #TeamWFM