Whole Foods Market’s Post

While visiting North Carolina, our team got dirt deep out on Carolina Farm Trust, a Whole Cities Community First Grant recipient that has served more than 3,500 households in the neighboring community since partnering with us in 2021. An urban farm in the Charlotte metro, their goal is to make the area a global leader in sustainability by feeding the region with food from local farms. Garlic was harvested, garments were dyed, stories were swapped and memories were made. #Asheville #InTheField #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"Your vantage point as a leader is only going to be what you see from the place you put yourself every day. One of my goals is making sure I'm not just sitting, in an office, in Austin, TX, week in, week out. I spend a significant amount of time visiting our stores, our facilities, our suppliers and our various partners. A big part of that is making sure that I can hear what's going on, helping bring that in and having it inform how we lead our business. And then, as a leader, you need to help encourage these steps to take place throughout the organization." - Jason Buechel, CEO 💚💚💚 When you have a moment, join Adam Mendler in conversation with our CEO as they navigate humility, feedback and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional growth at a leadership level. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eE63bbgH #Leadership #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"Whole Foods Market has long been a pioneer in the organic and sustainable food movement, championing the health of both people and the planet. The commitment to responsible sourcing and community support resonates deeply with my passion for corporate sustainability. This internship has provided me with an incredible opportunity to dive into sustainability within the wine industry. Whether it's a Riesling or a Merlot, understanding the origins of grapes and sulfites is crucial. Being involved in projects focused on sustainable label transparency and packaging-specific carbon accounting has been amazing! From a young age, I have been captivated by the innovation and ethical commitment of brands dedicated to sustainability. As I advance in my career, I aspire to make meaningful contributions to teams working tirelessly to bring our favorite products to market ethically and sustainably." - Riddhi Bhattacharya, Adult Beverage Product Development and Innovation #Development #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra Velasquez, and I'm a rising senior at the University of Texas at Dallas 🤟. I was born in Dallas and have lived in Texas my whole life. My current obsessions are hot matcha lattes, crosswords and late afternoon runs (it's been raining recently in Austin, so the weather is bearable). I'm studying finance and economics, leaning a little more towards the finance industry. After graduation, I plan on continuing my education by getting my master’s degree.   I was so excited when I heard I would be a part of the 2024 Summer Internship class! I've worked at the Cityline Whole Foods Market store in Dallas for the last two years and was curious to learn more about the company and the work that goes into delivering a great shopping experience. Being a Retail Merchandising Intern on the Whole Body team has been such an immersive way to deepen my understanding of what "customer-obsessed" looks like. I gained so much insight into the data analysis and collaboration needed to put products on shelves that delight various stakeholders — from suppliers to fellow Team Members — all while ensuring the highest quality standards are fulfilled." - Alexandra Velasquez, Retail Merchandising Intern #Retail #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

Thank you for the stay, North Carolina. 💚 Deep appreciation to #TeamWFM at our Waverly store for welcoming us, 365 by Whole Foods Market supplier FedUp Foods for showing us the innovation behind kombucha flavor production, and Gaia Herbs, Hickory Nut Gap & Whole Cities' grant recipient Carolina Farm Trust for giving us tours of your beautiful spaces and the impact you all provide. #Asheville #InTheField #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"I was born in the Middle East to a French family of Greek and French descent, but my roots extend worldwide. I grew up in Southeastern Asia, sub-Saharan and Northern Africa, Mexico, and Western Europe, developing a passion for fresh foods from local street markets and using the ingredients I found to fuel my exploration. My upbringing gifted me many things, but finding languages to be moments of opportunity rather than barriers and valuing diversity through cuisine are lessons that continue to shape and impact me today.   In 2002, I moved to Colorado, happily married, and settled in raising my son and daughter while working as a Construction Project Manager and hosting a local culinary cooking show. My son later became a US Marine, my daughter became a pharmacy technician, and I eventually blended my passion for store remodeling and food by joining the Store Development team at Whole Foods Market.   My role and the challenges that accompany it allow me to continue advancing my career, elevating it to my highest standards in the retail industry. But more than anything, I enjoy the camaraderie that collaborating alongside our great Construction Project Managers creates, making the work more valuable and a joy to do. There are multiple new challenges and more projects on the horizon, but working with such amazing Team Members leaves me with nothing but excitement." - Bruno Krioussis, Sr. Construction Project Management #Construction #PM #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

“I started as a part-time Cashier for Whole Foods Market in Evanston, IL, during the age of coupon books. I would ferociously memorize the coupons for the month so I could surprise customers with extra discounts on their purchases, officially earning my “coupon cashier” title. After showing some interest in the Whole Body department, I worked some shifts and eventually moved to the team, diving deep into product knowledge. I later became a Buyer and then transferred to our Fullerton store as a Market Associate Team Leader. At the beginning of COVID, I moved to Baton Rouge as a Whole Body Team Trainer and finally settled in as a Store Trainer. I shuffled around a bit, but that's what's so exciting about working for Whole Foods: My path highlights my drive to know and do more, and I gratefully work somewhere I can exercise those curiosities. It's one of the reasons I became a Culture Champion, and I'm equally grateful I did. I’ve always dreamed of visiting our suppliers and seeing the process of how we get the products on our shelves. So, I was thrilled to be chosen to join an 'In the Field with Jason' trip to North Carolina where we visited Gaia Herbs, a Certified B Corporation actively working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. A little backstory: I had a hit-and-run bike accident and was really struggling with inflammation and sleeping; a customer suggested that I try Gaia’s Turmeric Supreme Pain P.M. formula. It became the driving force in my recovery and inflammation relief when I needed a solution. I felt overwhelming gratitude while creating that memory, stepping onto the property, knowing I could actually take that step partially thanks to the work they do. When I first started at Whole Foods Market, I didn’t even know what ‘organic’ was. But since then, I’ve learned so much about ingredients, health and wellness, and the impact we can all create. I feel seen and appreciated for the skills and knowledge I bring to the table in a way I didn’t expect. I’ve experienced more than I ever thought I could by working at a grocery store.” - Hailee Fourcade, Whole Body Team Trainer #Ashville #InTheField #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"Every day in Austin has been fun! With activities happening constantly, delicious food and opportunities to cool off at Barton Springs, the city feels so alive. There's a contagious, energetic vibe in the air, and it's completely caught me. Some fantastic restaurants I've tried and would recommend are Cuantos Tacos and La BBQ. Aside from getting to know Austin, and learning more about groceries and the #TeamWFM culture, building my technical skills has been a key goal I've enjoyed experiencing during my internship. I was a data analyst in the past, but it was too coding-heavy for me. As a business analytics intern, I get to focus on extracting insights and presenting them to leadership, helping to make informed strategic decisions to move the business forward." - Jordan Emmer, Business, Customer, & Marketing Analytics Graduate Intern #Analytics #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing

"Hi! I'm Ailbhe. I'm going into my senior year at THE (!) Ohio State University, working towards my BS in Business Administration with a specialization in Real Estate & Urban Analysis and a minor in City & Regional Planning. Over the last two years, I've worked as an In-Store Shopper at two Whole Foods Market locations (Chappaqua, NY and West Lane, OH). I fell in love with the culture, Core Values and Purpose. This piqued my interest in the Store Support Offices, so I applied to be an Intern … ... And joined the Merchandising Presentation team, focusing on editing and building planograms for our stores. I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring this avenue of work and immersing myself further in the #TeamWFM culture. Working as a Shopper, I find picking and packing items for customers fulfilling; it allows you to provide for customers who placed orders and simultaneously assist in-store customers, all while gaining product and company knowledge. During my internship, I gained insight into e-commerce metrics and the company story as a Culture Champion, further motivating me to learn more about how what I see in the store comes to fruition at our Store Support Offices. Learning the bits and pieces of different departments has been inspiring and captivating, increasing my admiration of Whole Foods. Witnessing the amount of effort and hands that go into curating the perfect customer experience while continuing to produce groundbreaking work companywide is invigorating, and it feels amazing to be associated with this company. I couldn't be happier with my internship experience and my role on the team. My dream is to continue my journey at Whole Foods: A career in the Real Estate department would be a cherry on top, being a core part of strategically opening new stores around the globe. I'm super excited to continue my role in the stores for my last year of school, and hopefully, I'll find my way back to Austin in the future." - Ailbhe Brady, Merch Intern #Merchandise #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM