Whole Foods Market

Registrations are open for our Grow Your Career Series! This week, come meet our Merchandising team as they share insights on the work they do to build meaningful relationships and bring beloved products to our shelves. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gwPwSYQf

I love supporting #inspiringwomen through Whole Foods Market's lending program. The Kuli Kuli Foods story began when Lisa Curtis was in the Peace Corps in West Africa. While there, she had trouble finding meat-free options to suit her vegetarian diet. The local women recommended moringa, and once Lisa returned home, she was inspired to introduce this highly #nutritious plant to the U.S. market. Kuli Kuli Foods has been a WFM supplier for the past decade and a two-time prior #localloan recipient. “Kuli Kuli wouldn’t be here without Whole Foods Market,” Lisa said. “We have found that at every stage in our journey, from launching into one store to now having over a dozen products in stores nationwide, Whole Foods Market has been there to support us and encourage us. It’s been tremendous for us and tremendous for the communities we source from.” We are thrilled to continue to partner with you, Lisa, and look forward to your continued growth at Whole Foods Market. 🚀 🚀 🚀

"I will never forget my very first day at Whole Foods Market in West LA with my very first shift starting off with an All-Store Meeting. I remember how much energy my Store Team Leader brought to the meeting and the warm welcome I received from the team. Coming from a conventional market, something felt incredibly different here. I could not pinpoint what it was at first, but I soon discovered that it was the culture at Whole Foods that made this not just another grocery store. Being an Associate Store Team Leader, I got moved around a bit but soon discovered that all the stores had that same, welcoming vibe. I quickly realized how lucky I was to have joined a company with a Purpose to nourish people and the planet.   After deciding to make a change, Whole Foods relocated my family to Arizona, where I have resided going on 10 years. I transferred to Arizona as an Assistant Store Team Leader and when the opportunity opened at Paradise Valley (PVA) for a Store Team Leader, I went for it and have been here since. I have to say I am truly blessed with the team that I have. We are like a family, and everyone works together as a team. Whole Foods has given me so many opportunities, most recently getting to go In the Field with Jason to Portland, Oregon. How many of us can say we had an opportunity to go visit some of our suppliers with our CEO and other amazing Team Members from all over the world? Being able to see where our food comes from and how their Quality Standards and Core Values align so perfectly with ours are moments I get to keep and share with the Team Members of my store. Being able to try my very first oyster straight from the water where they are harvested was incredible, as well! It was a trip that I will never forget.   I am so proud of where we have taken PVA: We had five All-Stars in 2022, named Top Store in 2023, and in 2024, I was nominated for TWIG (Top Women in Grocery)! All these things could not be possible without my team. I did not officially win, but being nominated was an honor all on its own. We have had a lot of Team Member growth, working so hard as a group to prepare our teams for what’s next with our relocation to Paradise Valley Mall. They truly are The Best Team, and we can hardly wait to see what magic happens in our new store!   Always strive for more and make the best out of everything!" - Laura Kammerer, Store Team Leader #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TMAW #TeamWFM

While visiting North Carolina, our team got dirt deep out on Carolina Farm Trust, a Whole Cities Community First Grant recipient that has served more than 3,500 households in the neighboring community since partnering with us in 2021. An urban farm in the Charlotte metro, their goal is to make the area a global leader in sustainability by feeding the region with food from local farms. Garlic was harvested, garments were dyed, stories were swapped and memories were made. #Asheville #InTheField #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"Your vantage point as a leader is only going to be what you see from the place you put yourself every day. One of my goals is making sure I'm not just sitting, in an office, in Austin, TX, week in, week out. I spend a significant amount of time visiting our stores, our facilities, our suppliers and our various partners. A big part of that is making sure that I can hear what's going on, helping bring that in and having it inform how we lead our business. And then, as a leader, you need to help encourage these steps to take place throughout the organization." - Jason Buechel, CEO 💚💚💚 When you have a moment, join Adam Mendler in conversation with our CEO as they navigate humility, feedback and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional growth at a leadership level. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eE63bbgH #Leadership #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"Whole Foods Market has long been a pioneer in the organic and sustainable food movement, championing the health of both people and the planet. The commitment to responsible sourcing and community support resonates deeply with my passion for corporate sustainability. This internship has provided me with an incredible opportunity to dive into sustainability within the wine industry. Whether it's a Riesling or a Merlot, understanding the origins of grapes and sulfites is crucial. Being involved in projects focused on sustainable label transparency and packaging-specific carbon accounting has been amazing! From a young age, I have been captivated by the innovation and ethical commitment of brands dedicated to sustainability. As I advance in my career, I aspire to make meaningful contributions to teams working tirelessly to bring our favorite products to market ethically and sustainably." - Riddhi Bhattacharya, Adult Beverage Product Development and Innovation #Development #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra Velasquez, and I'm a rising senior at the University of Texas at Dallas 🤟. I was born in Dallas and have lived in Texas my whole life. My current obsessions are hot matcha lattes, crosswords and late afternoon runs (it's been raining recently in Austin, so the weather is bearable). I'm studying finance and economics, leaning a little more towards the finance industry. After graduation, I plan on continuing my education by getting my master’s degree.   I was so excited when I heard I would be a part of the 2024 Summer Internship class! I've worked at the Cityline Whole Foods Market store in Dallas for the last two years and was curious to learn more about the company and the work that goes into delivering a great shopping experience. Being a Retail Merchandising Intern on the Whole Body team has been such an immersive way to deepen my understanding of what "customer-obsessed" looks like. I gained so much insight into the data analysis and collaboration needed to put products on shelves that delight various stakeholders — from suppliers to fellow Team Members — all while ensuring the highest quality standards are fulfilled." - Alexandra Velasquez, Retail Merchandising Intern #Retail #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

Thank you for the stay, North Carolina. 💚 Deep appreciation to #TeamWFM at our Waverly store for welcoming us, 365 by Whole Foods Market supplier FedUp Foods for showing us the innovation behind kombucha flavor production, and Gaia Herbs, Hickory Nut Gap & Whole Cities' grant recipient Carolina Farm Trust for giving us tours of your beautiful spaces and the impact you all provide. #Asheville #InTheField #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"I was born in the Middle East to a French family of Greek and French descent, but my roots extend worldwide. I grew up in Southeastern Asia, sub-Saharan and Northern Africa, Mexico, and Western Europe, developing a passion for fresh foods from local street markets and using the ingredients I found to fuel my exploration. My upbringing gifted me many things, but finding languages to be moments of opportunity rather than barriers and valuing diversity through cuisine are lessons that continue to shape and impact me today.   In 2002, I moved to Colorado, happily married, and settled in raising my son and daughter while working as a Construction Project Manager and hosting a local culinary cooking show. My son later became a US Marine, my daughter became a pharmacy technician, and I eventually blended my passion for store remodeling and food by joining the Store Development team at Whole Foods Market.   My role and the challenges that accompany it allow me to continue advancing my career, elevating it to my highest standards in the retail industry. But more than anything, I enjoy the camaraderie that collaborating alongside our great Construction Project Managers creates, making the work more valuable and a joy to do. There are multiple new challenges and more projects on the horizon, but working with such amazing Team Members leaves me with nothing but excitement." - Bruno Krioussis, Sr. Construction Project Management #Construction #PM #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

Selecting this year's LEAP: Early Growth cohort was a doozy. We received over 1600 applications from talented, passionate, & creative founders. Innovation and entrepreneurship are alive and well in the CPG industry.   Narrowing the application pool to the final 10 is always a difficult journey, but this year it was especially challenging. That said, this year's applications, semi-finalists & finalists made me especially hopeful for the future of the industry. I saw more brands than ever doing smart and mindful business: setting themselves up for sustainable growth; focusing on climate smart sourcing, taking smart risks, and educating themselves on what it takes to have a chance at success in this industry. Thank you to every brand & founder who took the time to apply and engage in the selection process. You inspire me endlessly. You will do great things.   And now for the big news: I'm excited to welcome and congratulate the 2024 LEAP: Early Growth cohort. I cannot overstate how excited I am for these 10 brands & founders. Despite a wide diversity in product, mission, and founder experience - there are strong common threads of resilience, vision, entrepreneurial spirit and the drive to make a positive impact.   Huge congratulations to Aahana's (Sonal Khakhar), Bowlcut (Crystal Ung), Date Better Snacks (Michelle Valdez- Wilton), Edenesque (Leslie Woodward), Freezcake (Jenifer Shwartz), Geem (Candice Choi), Maté Party (Jesica Oliverio), SAM+LEO (Dara Erck), Sibeiho (Holly Ong), and TUYYO (Stefanie Garcia Turner)!