Company Profile
Company Overview
America’s Healthiest Grocery Store™
Who are we? Well, we seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add to that the excitement and fun we bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what we’re all about. Oh yeah, we’re a mission-driven company too.
Company History
Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Our founders were John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. We have grown by leaps and bounds since our first store opened.
Benefits
Whole Foods Market offers terrific benefits and a fun, friendly work atmosphere with open books, open doors, and open people. Our work culture is something that’s truly special, and we believe it is one of the reasons that our Team Members have chosen us as one of FORTUNE® magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" every year since the list began in 1998.
FORTUNE cited some of the reasons Whole Foods Market made the list for 2014 were our commitment to professional growth and development opportunities, including our Academy for Conscious Leadership and the freedom and encouragement of our Team Members to pursue personal passions. We are one of only 13 companies that have made the list every year since its inception in 1998.
We also made FORTUNE's "Most Diverse" list in 2013 — with a workforce made up of 44% women and 43% minorities — along with the "Best Perks" list for offering gym membership discounts, compressed workweeks and gay-friendly policies and benefits. In fact, Whole Foods Market is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and Team Members without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender including gender identity and expression, ancestry, citizenship status, ethnicity, genetic information, national origin, uniform service membership/veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, medical condition or any other protected status in accordance with local, state/provincial or federal laws.
But what does it really mean to work in the team environment at Whole Foods Market? Picture this:
•Working side by side with a fun, friendly and diverse bunch of Team Members and leadership, in an exciting and fast-paced setting
•Learning about natural and organic products from the experts
•Being empowered to serve our great customers the way you'd expect to be served
•Freedom to let your individual style show
•Taking advantage of our many opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally
•Experiencing the pride and satisfaction of contributing to the well-being of people and the planet every day
•Communicating frequently, openly and compassionately with fellow Team Members and leadership
•Meeting regularly to discuss team operations and make consensus decisions
•Appreciating each other's contributions
•Working together to maximize rewards from Team Member incentive programs
•Celebrating successes together
•Having fun!
Perhaps nowhere is Whole Foods Market’s team spirit better described than in our Declaration of Interdependence: "Achieving unity of vision about the future of our company, and building trust between Team Members is a goal of Whole Foods Market. At the same time diversity and individual differences are recognized and honored. We aim to cultivate a strong sense of community and dedication to the company."
The Benefits of Becoming a Team Member
Offering competitive benefits for our Team Members isn't just a way to support our Core Value of "Team Member Happiness and Excellence," it's the right thing to do. As a Whole Foods Market Team Member, you'll enjoy the following*:
Team members and their domestic partners receive a store discount of at least 20% •Generous store discount
•Medical Care
•Dental Plan
•Vision Plan
•Life Insurance
•Retirement Savings Plan
•Paid Time Off
•Leaves of Absence
•Gainsharing Program
•Team Member Stock Option Plan
•Team Member Emergency Funds
•And more!
*PLEASE NOTE: Team Members are eligible for Whole Foods Market benefits if they work 20+ hours per week and have successfully completed a probationary period of employment. Benefits packages offered may differ depending on whether you're employed in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. These benefits are not contractual and are subject to periodic review.