As Whole Foods Turns 30, whats next?

Whole Foods, the organic and natural foods supermarket trendsetter, turns 30 on Sept. 20.

It has been widely imitated in style and concept. Its pricing has garnered it the pop culture nickname
“Whole Paycheck.” The relatively tiny chain, which has 300 units in 38 states, has had a cultural impact more akin to that of Starbucks, which has more than 11,000 U.S. locations.

Yet, last year, in one of its most challenging years ever, Whole Foods (WFMI) still posted sales of $8
billion. It is about to roll out three much-watched health and wellness programs at stores in the next
year. Whole Foods co-founder,John Mackey, 57, talks about his company’s past three decades and the next.

Q: What do you say to those who claim Whole Foods has gotten stodgy and gray at the temples?

A: In human biology, 30 is your peak. … We’re still youthful and idealistic, but more mature and wiser now.

Q: Let’s hear some of that new idealism.

A: A new animal welfare rating program will be in all stores by Jan. 1. Signs will tell customers exactly how meat animals were raised. In stores Wednesday, we’ll become the first retailer to have transparency on all species of seafood we sell, in a partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Blue Ocean Institute. We’re rolling out initiatives to help shoppers and (staff) make healthier, more educated choices about food.

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