Whole Foods Market was founded in 1978 when John Mackey and Rene Lawson Hardy opened a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas. They later partnered with two others and merged with another store to form the original Whole Foods Market in 1980. Less than a year later, a major flood devastated Austin and the store's inventory. As of February 2022, Whole Foods Market has over 666 shareholders, owns over 313 million shares worth over $16.7 billion. The company also operates the Whole Planet Foundation to fund poverty alleviation efforts where it sources products, with a current campaign goal of raising $7 million to help over 250,000 people.
2. History
• In 1978, John Mackey and Rene Lawson Hardy, borrowed $45,000 to open a
small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas
• They partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge SaferWay with
Clarksville Natural Grocery, opening of the original Whole Foods Market on
September 20, 1980.
• Less than a year later, a flood devastated the city of Austin. The store's
inventory was wiped out and losses were approximately $400,000
3. Whole Foods Market, Inc.
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Total Number of Holders: 666
Total Shares Held
313,259,785
Total Value of Holdings 16,743,735,508
$53.69* 0.24 negative 0.45% as of Feb 28
4. Commitment to Society
• Whole Planet Foundation
• mission is poverty alleviation in developing-world communities where Whole
Foods Market® sources products.
• Campaign begins February 19th and ends on March 31st.
• goal is to raise $7 million, creating 40,000 loans and extending their support
to more than 250,000 people around the world.
