Whole Foods Market

"I started working at Whole Foods Market in March 2022 as a full-time Bakery Team Member, simultaneously taking 18 credits as a senior at Towson University (go Tigers!) to make sure I graduated on time. Whole Foods was a complete culture shock for me. The standards, the care, the pride I felt at work reassured me that this is where I absolutely wanted to be. I was soon promoted to the Bakery Team Trainer position, and then a few months later, I became the Bakery Order Writer, gaining further knowledge and experience of the retail business. One of my favorite implementations to date was a color-coded system for the freezer: every new month had a different color for the receive date to help with product rotation every 60 days. After graduating college, 18-credit hours freer, I had time to think about what I wanted to do next to further my growth. The turning point for me was being selected to go In the Field with Jason on a trip to Portland. I was honored to take part: That trip allowed me to network, meet our CEO, make friends, learn about our culture, our suppliers and gain further insight on our behind-the-scenes operations. After the trip, I applied for the Prepared Foods Associate Team Leader (ATL) position to challenge myself further (all while being completely afraid of change). I was super honored when I got the position. Prepared Foods caught me by surprise, but my amazing Team Leader, Jermal, invested his time and effort into my growth. As the youngest ATL at my store, I set my standards high to match my fellow ATLs. I truly love what I do, I love working with Team Members, I love coaching in the moment, I love taking time out to contribute to Team Member growth, I love keeping Team Members involved. Prepared Foods Towson is a family away from my family, and I wouldn’t want to change a single thing. Sending massive appreciations to my Team Leader Jermal, and my Store Leadership, Ave, Devon and Claudia. You all have always supported and pushed me to be my best, which gives me the confidence to do just that!" - Iqra Zulfiqar, Prepared Foods Associate Team Leader #Leadership #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

#ICYMI: The doors to the West Boca Raton store, our second store in Boca Raton, Florida, is now open. At 35,000 square feet and located in a bustling retail area, West Boca Raton features more than 700 local products from the Sunshine State. The store’s design was inspired by Florida’s sunny and welcoming community, featuring warm yellows and bright oranges throughout the store. Some highlights from the day: ?? Greeting 600+ enthusiastic customers with local coffee from Wells Coffee Co. and fresh baked cookies from La Gringuita Cookies ?? Stuffing a previously donated Nourishing Our Neighborhoods van with products for Palm Beach Harvest, Inc and donating to area nonprofits Boca Helping Hands and Cereal4All ?? An array of certified organic, conventional, and Sourced for Good produce, including collard greens and kale from Lady Moon Farms, Inc., tomatoes from Pacific Tomato Growers, and grapefruit from Florida Classic Growers, Inc. ??Curated grocery section filled with private label favorites from 365 by Whole Foods Market and local products including fresh juices from Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company and 305 Squeezed, and gelato bars from Gelatys ?? Extensive selection of more than 700 wines and 170 craft beers with local favorites 3 Sons Brewing Co., Tripping Animals Brewing Co., and Green Bench Brewing Co. ?? Bakery department offering made-in-house bread as well as everyday favorites. Local options include breads from Zak The Baker, desserts from Mommas Baked Goods, pastries from Simply Delicious Bakers and plant-based cakes from Bunnie Cakes ?? Congratulations to all 153+ West Boca Raton Team Members, including Store Team Leader, Nick Ayoub, and Associate Store Team Leaders, Alexandra Janvion and Patrick Danaher! #NSO #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"I started with Whole Foods Market in August 2008 as a Payroll Benefit Specialist in Salt Lake City, UT, at our Sugar House store. I had been with the company for a few years when I went through a tough divorce and became a single mother. Meeting the expectations of my role was proving quite challenging in my new world, so I chose to leave Whole Foods in 2011 for a company that could offer me a more set schedule. What I found at my new employer was a far different experience and hard realization that not all companies walk the talk of fostering a respectful, professional work environment. I was so miserable I left after one month, quickly went to the Whole Foods career page to see what positions may be open and was grateful to see that my old role was still there. I took the chance and reached out to my previous Team Leaders to discuss the possibility of returning. I was met with nothing but excitement and support and went back to my old role, at my old store, in February 2012. A year after returning, I was promoted and transferred to the Trolley Square location in a Metro Team Member Services (TMS) role. I soon transferred to open our Draper location and later moved to support our Sugar House store. When Draper closed, I took on further responsibilities to support our Mountain Region in Salt Lake City, UT. While I love my Utah team and stores, I had to be honest with myself: I am not a snowbird. I always told myself that when my sons grew up, I would head out west to warmer weather. In March 2022, after a wonderful transferring process, I did just that and moved to Las Vegas, NV. Last fall, I was promoted to Senior TMS Business Partner for all of Nevada, supporting four stores in Vegas and one in Reno. Honestly, reaching 30,000 service hours with Whole Foods Market is a little surreal for me. I remember hearing in panel interviews about leadership journeys with long tenures, amazing opportunities and the ongoing joke of 'look who drank the Kool-Aid'. It was hard to fathom being anywhere that long. Well, look who drank the Kool-Aid. :) I stay here because we truly walk our talk. I'm proud of the work we do to foster dynamic, inclusive work environments, and I have learned and grown so much in my time so far. I have had so many amazing leaders and mentors over the years; our people truly make the difference! I love what I do so much that I regularly refer people to work with us. In fact, my youngest son now works for one of our stores in Salt Lake City. It’s fun to see him enjoying himself, taking pride in his work and being supported by amazing leaders like I have been." - Emily Butterfield, Sr. TMS Business Partner? #HR #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

Join us at REGEN HOUSE this Monday, 3/10 for a deep dive into the future of regenerative beef. Whole Foods Market is teaming up with?Marcus Food Company, Force of Nature Meats, and HowGood?to explore the collaboration needed to make beef truly regenerative—from farm to retailer. This special lunch and discussion will highlight?regeneratively-produced protein?and insights from across the supply chain, focusing on how we can restore soil health, reduce emissions, and create a more resilient food system. Together, we’re shaping a climate-friendly future for food. https://lnkd.in/g4vm4FY3 #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFood #WholeFoodsMarket

"After getting my master's degree in hospitality management and a summer spent drinking wine and sleeping in hostels in Europe, I returned home with the harsh reality of needing a job, ASAP! So, I started my Whole Foods Market career as a Specialty Wine Buyer in Miami, Florida, where I was born and raised. I was so lucky to join the South Beach team: This store empowered every Team Member, had an entrepreneurial spirit and allowed us all to bring our authentic selves to work. We worked hard AND we had fun, and that is how I knew I found my people. I accomplished a lot at that store and worked with wonderful, inspiring leaders that set me up to succeed. One day in 2014, on a whim, I applied to a role in London, thinking to myself that I would never get it and if I did, it would be a couple of years max and then I would come back home to the sun and sea. It'll now be 10 years that I call cloudy London home. During that time, I was the only Certified Cheese Professional in the operational area, had my first Team Leader role at our Piccadilly Circus store, became an Associate Store Team Leader and then in 2020, became Store Team Leader (STL) of our flagship UK store, High Street Kensington. In 2024 I had the immense honour to receive companywide recognition as an All-Star for my work supporting the Culture Champion programme, a huge passion of mine. The programme was created for Team Members dedicated to our higher Purpose and who love bringing our Core Values to life in their stores. I love this part of my role because it allows me to expand my network of Team Members, connecting with them across the globe to educate, inspire and create fun, special moments for everyone in our stores. I am most excited to be the STL for our NEW Kings Road store opening in March 2025; quite the honour opening the newest UK store in over 10 years. My vision for Kings Road is clear: We will aim to deliver the highest standards, build community and pave the way for international growth — all while having fun and being ourselves. I am so fortunate that I found my first role in 2010. I love working for a company that is an industry leader, that very purposefully takes care of its Team Members and our communities, and that allows us to be creative in how we accomplish our goals. I can't wait to welcome you all in." - Bianca Rojas, Store Team Leader #NSO #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"I started working at?Whole Foods Market?in 2022 as a Principal Data Scientist in the Pricing and Promotion Science Team. I leveraged my technical expertise to develop models for price sensitivity, demand forecasting and promotional impact, enabling decisions that balanced our business objectives with our focus on customer value. In early 2025, I transitioned to Principal Analyst on the Pricing Strategy Team, furthering my skillsets in comprehensive pricing and promotion strategies, driving business success while upholding Whole Foods' commitment to excellence. ? My connection to this work is rooted in my upbringing on a small farm, where I gained firsthand experience with sustainable agriculture and understandings of food ecosystems. I have a deep devotion to responsible sourcing and appreciate Whole Foods' commitment to this practice and supporting local producers.?Whole Foods' genuine, consistent dedication to both its Purpose and its people are what impress me the most about working here. The company's open-door policy and collaborative culture have shattered my preconceptions about corporate environments. Here, nurturing people extends beyond our products to our company culture, as we all work together to cultivate environments where learning and growth are truly valued. ? As many mentors have noted, career growth rarely follows a straight line. My transition from technical data science to strategic leadership exemplifies this. I'm grateful to be a part of an organization that encourages exploration while maintaining focus on our Core Values. Working here, I get to combine my analytical skills with my passion for sustainable food systems, within an environment that both encourages and supports my curiosity and growth. ? Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue my journey with Whole Foods, contributing to its mission and growing alongside its remarkable people. We have some openings on the team, so if you're reading this, it resonated and you're looking for your next journey, I hope you'll join me." - Sophie Xu,?Principal Analyst #Analyst #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"I started at Whole Foods Market three years ago, snagging my dream job on our amazing Quality Standards team as the Principal Advisor for Social Responsibility. I previously worked as a human rights specialist in Thailand, exploring all the ways that businesses impact people's lives: from the challenges faced by migrant workers in the fishing industry to rural farmers trying to protect their communities from industrial pollution. Over time, I realized my core passion is for workers and doing what I can to improve their lives — especially for the often invisible, who make our global supply chains possible. ? Being on the Quality Standards team allows me to bring this work to life every day. I work with incredible people who are steadfastly committed to ensuring we source our products and services in a way that respects human rights. We collaborate with suppliers, experts, worker organizations, government, and industry groups to continuously improve our sourcing practices. ? Our latest initiative — the Whole Foods Market Seafood Code of Conduct — is a prime example of our dedication to strengthening the rights of workers in our global seafood supply chain. Focusing specifically on labor standards onboard fishing vessels, we spent the course of a year pulling together international standards, industry best practices, feedback from suppliers and experts, and workers' lived experiences to draft this industry-leading policy. ? We know this policy is ambitious, and we have work to do to make this a standard operating practice across the global fishing industry, but we are ready to put in the work. Fishing will remain a challenging industry, but our customers, suppliers and Team Members can trust that we are committed to fair, safe and transparent working conditions. As our Declaration of Interdependence states, 'It is our dissatisfaction with the current reality, when compared with what is possible, that spurs us toward excellence and toward creating a better person, company and world.' I am excited to dig in with our stakeholders and continue striving for that better world for all our workers." - Emily McDuff,?Social Responsibility Principal Advisor #NourishPeople #HumanRights #SocialResponsibility #SustainableSeafood #TeamWFM

"My career path within Team Member Services (TMS) has been one of growth, challenge and fulfillment. From my first day in late 2021, I instantly felt welcomed and supported within?the largest HR group I have ever been a part of. I quickly began building many meaningful relationships, so?it didn’t take long for me get a deeper understanding of the various needs of our Team Members. ? In 2022, I made the pivotal decision to move from Miami to North Carolina, driven by a desire to expand my horizons and take on new challenges. During the transition I had the opportunity to support stores throughout South FL, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina. This transition was not without its challenges, but it served as a catalyst for both my personal and professional growth. I realized along the way that Whole Foods Market is not only diverse in every sense of the word, but we all contribute positively to the company’s culture and objectives. ? I am filled with such excitement and determination as I step into my new role as a TMS Business Partner. This promotion represents more than a title change: It is an opportunity to deepen my impact on the organization and further align my contributions with our strategic goals. I am particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity to mentor and support others in their professional journeys with the same guidance and enthusiasm I have been fortunate to receive throughout my own career. ? This new chapter represents a culmination of years of hard work and a foundation for even greater accomplishments. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and am committed to exceeding expectations and continuing my growth in this role. These experiences have not only shaped me into a more effective professional but also reinforced my commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace." - Sherly Brizuela, Sr. TMS Business Partner #HR #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

?? Join Our Team! Senior Change Management Lead ?? At Whole Foods Market, we’re on a mission to nourish people and the planet and we’re looking for a Senior Change Management Lead to help drive that mission forward! If you're passionate about leading transformational change, fostering collaboration, and creating sustainable impact, this is your opportunity to make a difference. This role on Jenny Davidson's team, will give you the chance to work closely with teams across Whole Foods Market and Amazon, leading key initiatives that drive growth, efficiency, and lasting change across our Merchandising organization. This is your chance to contribute to large-scale projects that influence our future. ?? ?? Location: Austin, TX If interested, please see the job posting below.

Did you know that this year our Local and Emerging Accelerator Program application period is twice the length of the previous years? (Hint Hint: applications are open through March 19th) I felt strongly about giving early stage founders interested in applying time to plan their application and work on their brands once we announced the applications. Read more about what we’re looking for on the application page.