45 Years of Whole Foods Market: 45 Things I’m Proud Of

This September marks the 45th anniversary of Whole Foods Market (though it’s technically 47 if you count Safer Way, which opened in 1978). It’s incredible to think that one small natural foods store in Austin, Texas, has grown into what it is today. Looking back, I feel deep gratitude and love—for the people, the challenges, the triumphs, and the purpose that fueled this journey and continues to guide it forward.

To celebrate this milestone, I’d like to share 45 things I’m proud of Whole Foods for accomplishing over the years:

1. Making grocery shopping an enjoyable experience, not a chore.
2. Being a purpose-driven business long before it was popular.
3. Awakening people’s food consciousness and bringing organic and natural food mainstream.
4. Helping author the USDA’s organic standards.
5. Elevating industry quality and sourcing standards, inspiring others to follow ethical business practices.
6. Creating value for all stakeholders: customers, Team Members, suppliers, investors, communities, and the environment.
7. Being named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 20 consecutive years.
8. Becoming the first nationally certified organic grocer in the U.S.
9. Celebrating the powerful stories of our farmers, growers, and producers.
10. Building beautiful stores and making retail an art.
11. Demonstrating that business can be a force for good.
12. Empowering female entrepreneurs by providing over $100 million in microcredit loans through Whole Planet Foundation.
13. Improving children’s nutrition in schools through salad bars, beehives, and gardens from Whole Kids Foundation.
14. Starting Whole Cities Foundation to expand access to healthy food.
15. Fostering a sense of community in stores, creating gathering places.
16. Establishing and upholding the strictest standards for sustainable wild-caught and responsibly farmed seafood.
17. Banning 550+ harmful ingredients in food, beverages, body care, and cleaning products.
18. Creating and advancing animal welfare standards that have improved the quality of life for billions of livestock animals.
19. Cementing our commitment to ethical trade and fair working conditions through Whole Trade Guarantee (now Responsibly Sourced).
20. Promoting thousands of Team Members into leadership roles from within.
21. Serving as a launchpad for food culture shifts, from plant-based to paleo to keto.
22. Championing emerging brands and helping small companies grow into national household names.
23. Issuing $34M+ in low-interest loans to help suppliers scale their businesses.
24. Promoting regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, and pollinator health.
25. Leading the charge with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
26. Becoming a destination for discovery – from kombucha and heirloom grains to exotic produce and local cheeses.
27. Reducing waste through composting, recycling, and food donation programs.
28. Creating a culture where Team Members can thrive, personally and professionally.
29. Being a powerful change agent for the broader food system, from farming to distribution to retail.
30. Helping thousands of Team Members improve their health through company-sponsored total health immersions.
31. Curating unique stores with regional products instead of cookie-cutter assortments.
32. Being a trusted source for consumers with a diverse range of needs.
33. Offering health insurance to Team Members before it was industry standard.
34. Introducing salad bars, hot bars, and in-store dining as part of grocery store culture.
35. Staying ahead of trends.
36. Giving millions in social premiums directly back to farmer communities and workers.
37. Empowering decentralized store and team leadership to drive innovation and creativity.
38. Ensuring product integrity with third-party certifiers domestically and internationally.
39. Prioritizing customer service and education with incredible Team Member expertise.
40. Leading with transparency—from ingredient labels to wage transparency for Team Members.
41. Being the first U.S. grocer to ban disposable plastic bags at checkout and the first national retailer to eliminate all plastic straws.
42. Creating a special culture rooted in purpose and love.
43. Owning our mistakes when we’re wrong and constantly evolving.
44. Continuing to inspire new generations of conscious consumers.
45. Never losing sight of our higher purpose: to nourish people and the planet.