1. What are the chief elements of the strategy that Whole Foods Market is pursuing?
Fresh natural and organic foods and products with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Promote healthier eating/lifestyle and increasing consumer knowledge/education of food safety, environment and how pesticides affect the land as well as the human body.
2. Is the strategy well matched to recent developments and conditions in the natural and organic foods segment of the food retailing industry?
Yes the Whole Foods strategy has worked well for the company. They have good products and seem to have happy employees who also obtain shares in the company. They do not have much competition only on smaller scales or small areas in existing regular food markets. The company is still expanding even in this poor market and acquiring new stores and companies.
3. Do you think John Mackey has a good strategic vision for Whole Foods? Why or why not? What do you like or dislike about the company 's motto "Whole Foods, Explain.
Yes, looking at the company’s profits and growth I believe John Mackey has an excellent strategic vision for this company and employees. He has managed to maintain a top quality product, expand stores all over the country, offer good employee incentives and expand his food store chains all over the USA and some locations abroad, while still making good profits. The motto to me isn’t two impressive it is just a play on words to somehow match the stores name “Whole Foods” the Motto Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet. If I didn’t know we were talking about Whole Foods I would have no idea what message that motto was trying to convey.
4. Do Whole Foods Market 's core values as presented in case exhibit 3 really matter? Are they "real" or just cosmetic window dressing? What evidence can you cite to support your answer? Have Whole Foods ' core values contributed to the company 's success? Why or why not?
Core values do matter as