Address:
550 Bowie St
Austin, TX 78703

Telephone:
512 477-4455

Internet Homepage:
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Total Current Stores:
364

Year Founded:
1980

Total Revenue:
$11.698 billion (fiscal 2012)

Senior Executives:
John Mackey – Co-CEO, Co-Founder
Walter Robb – Co-CEO, Co-Founder

Through acquisition and organic growth, Whole Foods has built a multi-billion dollar supermarket chain with a unique niche in the market. It opened its first store in Austin, TX September 1980 and the current company headquarters was built above that flagship location. Today, its stores stock over 2,600 store brand natural and organic products under a variety of names. The company’s largest (and most controversial) acquisition was of Wild Oats, which faced heavy opposition from the FTC. Since then, Whole Foods has grown mostly through organic growth and small acquisitions with 364 stores and 78,000 employees.

This year, Chain Store Guide celebrates its 80th anniversary. In honor of this occasion, we are hosting a monthly series of editorials called “Chain Store Guide Through The Ages”, starting with the 1930s. We will take a look at what was happening in that time and how it affected the industries we now serve. Our Company Snapshots will examine companies from that period and see where they are today.

*Image courtesy of: David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons