FORTUNE magazine just ranked Whole Foods Market No. 18 on its 2010 list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Thanks to our awesome Team Members (more than 50,000 now) we’ve made the list consecutively for 13 years and are one of only 13 companies to be named as an “All Star” for making the list every year since the list’s inception.

FORTUNE cited last year’s company store growth resulting in additional job creation, salary cap limits for top earners, and robust health care plan among the key factors considered for our climb to the 18th spot after ranking No. 22 in 2009. We also ranked among the top 13 most diverse of the 100 companies listed, with 45 percent of the workforce being minorities and 44 percent being women.

“We thank and congratulate our amazing Team Members for their commitment and dedication that has led to our continued success, and enabled us to once again be ranked on the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list,” said our CEO and co-founder John Mackey. “We are very happy about this achievement, and pleased to have opened 14 stores in the last year, creating job opportunities for more than 3,300 new Team Members despite a challenging economy.”

In the ranking’s “unusual perks” and benefits section, we were cited as a company that goes “above and beyond,” due to our executive pay limit — top earners are capped at 19 times the average hourly wage of $16.98, with CEO Mackey opting to draw a salary of $1 a year since 2007.

Our Team Members play an important role in determining the FORTUNE ranking. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on survey responses from at least 377 randomly selected employees.

“I love the idea that Whole Foods Market cares a lot about the happiness of their Team Members, because it is those happy Team Members who provide the best possible customer service,” said Team Member James McCaskill of West Hollywood, Calif. “Whole Foods Market always encourages Team Members to move up in the company.”

Benefits also contribute to Team Member satisfaction and job appreciation. Company benefits include a 20 percent Team Member store discount, health care coverage for domestic partners and a personal wellness account to help cover health-care expenses. Additionally, every three years Team Members select their benefits package through a company-wide vote.

“I love working for Whole Foods Market because you have a better chance of advancing and great benefits,” said Team Member Fatima Kone of New York. “I’ve worked for a lot of companies, and I have to say that this feels more like a family than a group of co-workers. Everyone gets credit for what they do, not just leadership.”

The “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and related stories will appear in the Feb. 8 issue of FORTUNE magazine, available on newsstands Monday, Jan. 25, and now at www.fortune.com/bestcompanies.

In the past 13 years, Whole Foods Market has earned the following rankings on the list:

• 2010 – No. 18
• 2009 – No. 22
• 2008 – No. 16
• 2007 – No. 5
• 2006 – No. 15
• 2005 – No. 30
• 2004 – No. 47
• 2003 – No.32
• 2002 – No. 48
• 2001 – No. 41
• 2000 – No. 72
• 1999 – No. 48
• 1998 – No. 34