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Wholesome Life
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"Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"
Whole Foods began in 1980 in Austin, Texas with only 19 staff. It now employs more than 43,000. John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy who were college dropouts launched their first store, SaferWay. A play of words to the big rival Safeway - on a £10,000 loan.
With the motto "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet", Whole Foods Market prides itself on a strong commitment to healthy, unprocessed and of course organic.
Whole Foods has grown by buying up smaller organic, health or natural food stores across the US - a strategy which has made it unpopular in some quarters. In 2004 it's first step across the ocean was buying up the seven Fresh and Wild stores in the London.
It's most recent acquisition in February 2007 was its main rival, Wild Oats Markets, in a takeover worth half a billion dollars. Though all is not rosey, reports yesterday state that Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has advised Whole Foods Market that it will file a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to block the proposed acquisition.
Whole Foods Market rejuvenated The Barkers building in Kensington High Street. Though renovation and finalising the store before opening has not been all plain sailing. One of London's most iconic buildings now contains a vast array of tempting delicious foods and amazing eating spaces.
With 80,000 square metres to fill, the building is split over 3 floors;
Provision hall - bakery, wine and cheese, a cheese room, fresh flowers, question and answer team, takeaway market kitchen;
Market Hall - seasonal fruits and vegetables, mix your own flavours, coffee and tea, grocery aisles, fishmonger,
Market Level - Beer, Sweet Shop, Whole Body, Clothing, Treatments
Not forgetting - Champagne and Oyster Bar, Tapas Bar and The Bramley (Whole Foods own Pub).
Whole Foods Market is bringing a new change and dimension to an already growing Market.
Details and information for the above story were provided via press packs and attending a presentation held at the Compassion in World Farming offices on June 5th 2007, where Mr John Mackey, the founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market gave a presentation.
Footnote: Mr John Mackey opened the evening with a very positive presentation of the Company and the various schemes it has available not just for staff but also third world developing countries and support for businesses locally. A question and answer time was held later, with a Journalist sitting opposite me posed a question to Mr Mackey on the lines of "What about your main 4 competitors in the UK, do you feel that there is going to be any conflict?" The reply was, "No, because Whole Foods Market specialises in Whole Foods". The Journalist forgot to add that it is not our large supermarkets in the UK, but it is out small, independent, local whole food and health stores that will need to be watched.
Watch this space!
 
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