Many people start successful businesses, but few change how the rest of us live — or eat, for that matter. Natural, organic, and vegetarian diets were niche “health-nut” interests when John Mackey opened the first Whole Foods Market in 1980. By the time Amazon purchased the company for nearly $14 billion in 2017, they were mainstream lifestyles.
As CEO from Whole Foods’ founding until 2022, Mackey has a unique perspective on growing and selling a category-redefining business, which he recounts in his new memoir The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism. He spoke with b. about negotiation, keeping (most) customers happy, and the continued importance of location, location, location.
Dispatches From The Front 