Whole Foods Market

"I began my career at Amazon Fresh as a Category Manager for snacks. My ultimate passion in life is food; seeking to be surrounded by folks equally passionate about food, I joined Whole Foods Market in 2021 as an E-Commerce Senior Program Manager. After a few years, I was approached about the opportunity to return to category management by joining the Meat team. As a former vegetarian, I have an unconventional path to the meat department. In middle school, I went vegetarian and showed PETA undercover videos on broiler hens when my teacher asked us to present on something we cared about. I believe all life has dignity and it bothered me to see such inhumane treatment. In high school, I developed chronic anemia and I resumed eating meat per my doctor's recommendations. The weight of being intentional about meat consumption has stuck with me.   The overwhelming majority of meat today is produced in a commodity system that doesn't prioritize animal welfare, sustainability, or nutrition. It is an untenable solution to these problems to suggest everyone stop eating meat: Today, about ~90% of Americans eat meat and want to continue doing so. While Whole Foods holds just a small part of the US meat market, we have higher meat raising standards than any national retailer on every dimension. What motivates me to drive excellence in this department is that every basis point of market segment share gained is transforming a food system into one that is more humane, sustainable, nutritious, and equitable.   I’ve always had an entrepreneurial drive, and I love that my work as a Category Merchant allows me to essentially run a small business within the larger store. I’m responsible for driving business results and delighting customers, but I have so much freedom to be creative in how I achieve those goals. From the new products I launch, the promotional strategies I execute, and the brands we partner with, I get to put together a vision and run with it. It is a privilege to be a part of the special moments and routines of the thousands of customers who shop our stores every day. I love that any city I visit, I’m likely to find a Whole Foods store where I can connect with the local community and see how my work shows up." - Victoria Fitzgerald, Senior Team Leader, Category Merchant #Merchant #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"After graduating, I knew I needed a job, and I wanted one that would: 1) align with my goals, and 2) allow me to be myself. I knew I wanted to join a company that did good in the world, where I got to work with great people and impact those around me positively every day. And who doesn’t love good food?! Seventeen years later, those key values and my reasons for being a part of Whole Foods Market haven't changed. Together in the store, we get to do so much to take care of each other and our customers. They say 'Team Members are our special sauce' and it’s the truth! I love coming to work every day because of everyone I get to work with. I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful leaders during my time at Whole Foods, from starting out as a Cashier, then to Supervisor, up through team leadership and onto store leadership. This company always looks for ways to help support Team Members and their goals, which is my goal, too. I strive to create space for everyone in the store to feel empowered and know that they have a voice and a pathway to advance their careers. I am excited to bring Whole Foods to South Nashua! It will be a joy to have a store that welcomes both our customers and Team Members, a place that feels good to walk into. We are in a bustling spot, so I look forward to offering our neighbors a place to get a bite to eat, do some shopping and ultimately be a part of the Whole Foods community." - Leigh Avery, Store Team Leader #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

#ICYMI: After 22 years, Paradise Valley just got a new Whole Foods Market. Part of the new open-air mall, this 50,358 square-foot store features over 300 local items from Arizona to continue to support the surrounding community. Some of our highlights from the day: 👋 Welcoming more than 450 customers into the new store with coffee and snacks from local suppliers ROC2 Fresh Roasted Organic Coffee, Laura's Gourmet, Elevated Culinary Concepts and Midi Bites 🚐 Giving back to the community by partnering with local organizations, Poly Praise Nonprofit and The Joy Bus, and then joining Paradise Valley Community Food Bank in a Stuff the Van event as part of our initiative to rescue food for community members in need  🥗 A larger Prepared Foods department featuring a hot bar, salad bar and fresh pizza and an expanded Bakery department featuring a full-service coffee and juice bar 🍋 The curated grocery section filled with favorites from 365 by Whole Foods Market and local products, including grains and flours from Hayden Flour Mills. LLC, chia cookies from Audrey's Chia Cookies, and milk, orange juice, and lemonade from Danzeisen Dairy  🍷 The extensive selection of more than 700 wines and 250 craft beers, with local options Greenwood Brewing, Huss Brewing Company, Roses by the Stairs Brewing and Wren House Brewing 💚 Round of applause to all the Team Members, Store Team Leader Laura Kammerer and Associate Store Team Leaders Derek McGovern and Eli Salvatierra for a fantastic opening! Read more about the opening day: 🔗 : https://lnkd.in/gS-pu_pD #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"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