Whole Story

As the receptionist at the Whole Foods Market® Global Support offices, I’m here to help set the record straight on recurring questions that I receive daily from interested investors, customers and potential new Team Members. Here are a few I’ve answered recently:

Q: “How do I apply for a job at in a store that’s still in development?”

A: As a decentralized company, each store or support office is responsible for hiring at their location. Once you check the list of stores in development to confirm we have a store opening in your area, reach out to the state’s regional office to get an estimated opening date. Keep in mind that opening dates are flexible and can be changed for a variety of reasons.  Stores generally start the application process roughly 45 days before the store opening. Hiring will start with store leadership positions first and then openings will be posted for entry-level positions. Continue to check our careers page for updated job postings. Several regions conduct job fairs for larger store openings so make sure and reach out to the regional office to see how their process works!

Q: “I would like to write a paper about Whole Foods Market for a summer course I’m taking, who can help me find information?”

A: Please understand that we simply don’t have adequate staff to accommodate requests for interviews with our Team Members or to fill out and return questionnaires. Our Customer Information Team is always happy to try and point you in the right direction if you’re looking for information for your project. To help you on your way, they've pulled together some of the resources most requested by students and where you’ll find that information on our website:

• All of the sales and financial information we are able to share with the public is available in the Investor Relations section of our website. There’s a great deal of information there, and anything above and beyond what is there is in all likelihood proprietary.
• We have tons of information about our benefits, hiring practices, and company policies on our Careers pages. Another great resource if you’re looking for information about working at Whole Foods Market is to search our Press Room for press releases about our placement on FORTUNE® Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.
• Unlike many companies, we don’t have a traditional one sentence mission statement. Our Core Values reflect our company’s mission. You’ll find those in the Values section of our website.
• We do not have a Corporate Social Responsibility report, but we do have a Green Mission Report available on our website. The bulk of our donation dollars go to our stores to work with organizations in and around their communities. If you have any questions about community giving at your local store, call the store and speak with someone in Marketing and Community Relations.
• Information about what we look for when building a new store is available on the Real Estate page.

Q: “I make a product that I want to sell in Whole Foods Market. Do you carry products from small, local vendors?”

A: We love to support local vendors! Our company has decentralized buying which allows each region to work with vendors based on the shopping needs of their specific community. You’ll need to contact the regional office in your area for details on becoming a vendor in that region. We want local vendors to prosper, which is one of the reasons that we started the Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP). Take a look at the LPLP site is useful for vendor stories, program details and an FAQ page. To get an idea of the local vendors we support in your area, check out our Local Growers Map.

These are just a few of the questions I’ve received lately. I’d love hearing your specific questions and finding an answer for you. Leave a comment below with your question!