STORES AND STANDARDS

1. 1980
   • SaferWay Natural Foods and Clarksville Natural Grocery join forces to open Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas, with a staff of 19.
2. 1981
   • Flash-flooding severely damages the original store, which reopens in only 28 days thanks to the pitch-in efforts of Team Members, family members and community members.
3. 1984
   • Whole Foods Market goes beyond Austin to open a store in Houston.
4. 1985
   • Whole Foods Market releases the "Declaration of Interdependence" to affirm our commitment to customers, Team Members, investors, suppliers, the environment and local communities.
5. 1988
   • In New Orleans, Whole Food Company and its highly committed staff (all stockholders!) join us to become the 6th Whole Foods Market and the first outside of Texas.
6. 1989
   • The first Whole Foods Market on the West Coast opens in Palo Alto, California.
7. 1991
   • Wellspring Grocery in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC become part of our growing family.
8. 1992
   • Bread & Circus, the largest natural food retailer in the Northeast, is welcomed into the Whole Foods Market fold with open arms.
9. 1993
   • The first Whole Foods Market in the Midwest opens in Chicago.
   • In the Los Angeles area, Mrs. Gooch's stores bring their special-diet expertise with them and become part of Whole Foods Market.
10. 1996
    • The Whole Foods Market store count grows fast in new markets with 22 Fresh Fields stores in the Midwest and along the eastern seaboard joining our flock.
11. 1997
    • Bread of Life becomes part of Whole Foods Market, our first store in Florida.
    • The acquisition of Merchant of Vino in the Detroit area brings six stores and great wine sense.
    • After years as a valued supplier-partner, Allegro Coffee Company becomes part of Whole Foods Market.
    • Whole Foods Market introduces quality to value, releasing our first 365 Everyday Value® brand products.
12. 1999
    • We welcome Nature's Heartland stores to the family in the Northeast.
13. 2000
    • Food 4 Thought stores in central California become the newest members of the Whole Foods Market family.
14. 2001
    • Whole Foods Market arrives in the Big Apple with our first New York City store.
    • In the Atlanta area, several Harry's Farmers Market megastores join Whole Foods Market while retaining the Harry's name.
15. 2002
    • Whole Foods Market goes international, opening our first store in Toronto.
16. 2003
    • Whole Foods Market becomes the first national Certified Organic Grocer.
    • Whole Foods Market discontinues selling products that contain hydrogenated fats.
17. 2004
    • Whole Foods Market goes overseas when seven Fresh & Wild stores in London join our family!
    • Our own Gluten Free Bakehouse opens in a dedicated facility.
    • Whole Foods Market adds the promise to sell only eggs from cage-free hens.
18. 2005
    • Whole Planet Foundation™ begins!
    • Whole Foods Market vows to avoid GMOs in our own branded products.
19. 2006
    • Whole Foods Market discontinues the sale of baby bottles and cups made with BPA as well as other plastics made from phthalates.
    • We stop selling live lobsters, with the exception of our Portland, Maine store working with a local lobster company for humane capture, transportation and in-store tank.
20. 2007
    • Wild Oats Markets and Whole Foods Market come together, adding 74 stores in 23 states to our family.
    • A huge new Whole Foods Market opens in London, England.
    • Our Local Producer Loan Program makes its first loan (to a Florida honey producer).
21. 2009
    • Each of our 250+ stores in the US goes through independent 3rd-party inspection and receives organic certification.
22. 2010
    • At 30 years, Whole Foods Market now operates almost 300 stores in 37 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and the UK with more than 52,000 Team Members.

ORGANICS AND GREEN MISSION

1. 1980
   • The word "organic" rarely makes headlines — yet.
2. 1984
   • The organic movement takes hold! The organization that in 1985 becomes the Organic Trade Association is established.
3. 1985
   • Sixty Team Members craft the Declaration of Interdependence, which includes a statement that "We Promote Environmental Stewardship," later to become the Core Value "We Care About Our Communities and Our Environment."
4. 1990
   • Organic retail sales reach $1 billion in the United States.
   • Congress passes the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
   • The word "organic" is big in media coverage — what a difference a decade makes!
5. 1991
   • Whole Foods Market begins to work with the US government to establish organic standards.
6. 1995
   • Our own Margaret Wittenberg (Global VP of Quality Standards) is appointed as the sole retail representative on the 14-member National Organic Standards Board.
7. 1998
   • The first National Organic Standards rule is proposed and allows use of GMOs, biosolids (sewage sludge) and irradiation in products labeled organic. Whole Foods Market helps customers respond to the USDA, which revises the rule.
8. 1999
   • Whole Foods Market partners with the Marine Stewardship Council to provide customers with more eco-conscious seafood choices.
9. 2000
   • A study shows that organic crop land more than doubled during the previous decade and that organic livestock sectors such as eggs and dairy grew even faster.
10. 2002
    • Whole Foods Market hosts the USDA news conference at our Washington, DC "P Street" store announcing the enactment of National Organic Standards!
    • With a solar panel installation on top of our Berkeley (CA) store, we become the first retailer to introduce solar power as a primary lighting source.
11. 2003
    • Whole Foods Market becomes the first national Certified Organic Grocer.
    • Our Green Mission task force forms, combining the efforts of individual stores and Team Members to organize environmentally friendly practices company-wide.
12. 2004
    • US organic food sales have grown 17-21% each year since 1997.
    • In Sarasota, FL, we open the first-ever LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) -certified grocery store.
    • WFM joins the EPA's Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program that works to standardize green power procurement as part of best environmental management.
    • The EPA recognizes us for our green power purchases with a Green Power Leadership Award.
13. 2005
    • We make a landmark purchase of renewable energy credits to offset 100% of our North American electricity usage.
    • All 50 states in the US now have some certified organic farmland, and the term "organic" is spoken daily in millions of households.
    • The EPA awards us our second Green Power Leadership Award.
    • Six Whole Foods Market stores have solar panels by this time.
14. 2006
    • We purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) from wind farms to offset 100% of the electricity used in all of our stores, facilities, and offices in the U.S. and Canada for 2006 – the largest wind energy credit purchase at the time by a public company.
    • On the EPA's Green Power Top 25 list, Whole Foods Market is #2 (after the U.S. Air Force) to lead corporate green power purchasers.
15. 2007
    • Our Local Producer Loan Program makes its first loan (to a Florida honey producer).
    • Whole Foods Market announces support for The Non-GMO Project.
    • The EPA once again named us Green Power Partner of the Year for the 2nd year in a row.
16. 2008
    • Company-wide, we eliminate disposable plastic bags at checkout.
    • All North American Whole Foods Market stores' paper bags are made of 100% recycled content.
    • Our LEED-certified Glastonbury, CT store opens with a fuel cell to generate 50% of its electricity and nearly 100% of its hot water needs.
17. 2009
    • The USDA announces a landmark $19 million in funding for organic agricultural research!
    • Each of our 250+ stores in the US goes through independent 3rd-party inspection and receives organic certification.
    • We are the first national retailer to offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper bags at checkout.
18. 2010
    • Our own Joe Dickson (Food, Organic and Environmental Quality Standards Coordinator) is appointed as the sole retail representative on the 14-member National Organic Standards Board.
    • An Organic Trade Association study reports that sales of organic fruits and vegetables now represent 11.4% of all US fruit and vegetable sales and have grown from $2.55 billion in 2000 to nearly $9.5 billion.
    • Whole Foods Market announces it is strengthening efforts to reduce energy consumption company-wide by 25 percent per square foot by 2015.
    • For the 5th year, we offset 100% of our electricity use in our North American locations with renewable energy credits.
    • Whole Foods Market announces company-wide cork-recycling in partnership with Cork ReHarvest.

FUN FACTS

1. 1980
   • Whole Foods Market opens with 19 employees, some of whom are still team members as of 2010.
   • Thanks to all the Beetles in the parking lot, people joke that it's hard to tell the difference between a VW dealer and the first Whole Foods Market store.
2. 1981
   • The single Whole Foods Market store is severely flooded, the community rallies and helps begin the clean up, and then 12 Team Members work tirelessly to reopen within just 28 days.
3. 1985
   • America is watching the last episodes of Dukes of Hazzard, Whole Foods Market is already working to reduce the use of hazardous pesticides, and the Organic Trade Association is established, giving the organic movement new momentum.
4. 1989
   • For the opening of our first Whole Foods Market California store in 1989 no one showed up for the job fair.
   • In April, the cover of our internal team member newsletter announces a company partnership with Philip Morris. (Yes, that's an April Fool's joke, and in 1998 the partner is NASCAR!)
5. 1997
   • Whole Foods Market introduces quality to value, releasing our first 365 Everyday Value® brand products.
6. 1998
   • The first proposed National Organic Standards rule (December 1997) allows the use of GMOs, biosolids (sewage sludge) and irradiation in products labeled organic. Whole Foods Market rallies customers and Team Members in a successful store-based, letter-writing campaign and the rules are rewritten!
   • Whole Foods Market makes the first FORTUNE magazine "100 Best Companies to Work For" list (and continues to make it year after year).
7. 2002
   • The Whole Foods Market Cookbook is published.
8. 2004
   • As a result of an idea presented by team members, the Green Mission Task Force, concerned with addressing recycling and environmental issues company-wide, is created.
   • Whole Foods Market is the second-largest commercial purchaser of green power in the EPA's Green Power Partnership.
9. 2005
   • Whole Foods Market is, as far as we know, the only supermarket with a holiday-season rooftop ice skating rink, and in Austin, Texas no less! (And it's still there every holiday season.)
10. 2007
    • CEO John Mackey and Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore's Dilemma, engage in a spirited discussion to a standing-room-only crowd, and awareness of the power of eating locally is heightened.
    • Whole Foods Market releases the first design of our 99-cent, reusable "A Better Bag," made from recycled plastic water bottles.
11. 2008
    • We make Guinness World Records for "Most Parmigiano Reggiano Wheels Cracked Simultaneously," a.k.a. the crack heard 'round the world!
    • Whole Foods Market distributes more than 400 tons of non-perishable food to help with food bank shortages around the world.
    • Whole Foods Market announces support for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to help improve wages and working conditions for Florida tomato pickers.
12. 2009
    • Whole Foods Market partners with Renegade Lunch Lady Chef Ann Cooper to promote healthy school lunch reform.
    • Our special April Fool's Day homepage content surprised and delighted website visitors with self-mocking humor.
    • Whole Foods Market Twitter followers top 1.5 million.
    • We add a 7th Core Value: Promoting the health of our stakeholders through healthy eating education.
13. 2010
    • Our cheese selection has become one of the best in the world, with more than 1,600 varieties — a big cheese change from 30 years ago when we sold only 17 varieties.
    • Whole Planet Foundation™ team member donations (via elective payroll deductions) hits more than $1.3 million, empowering more than 7,300 impoverished entrepreneurs to lift themselves out of poverty.
    • On average, approximately 20% of Whole Foods Market's fresh produce is locally grown.

PRODUCTS

Whole Trade^® Celebration Bouquet

• A beautiful example of the good things Whole Foods Market^® team members and customers are able to do together
• Produced using environmentally friendly methods outside of Bogota, Colombia
• Your purchase contributes to the welfare of farm workers and their communities

Santa Cruz Organic Peach Lemonade

• Santa Cruz has been an organic beacon since 1972, and a partner in values with Whole Foods Market^® for decades
• They work hard to raise awareness about the benefits of organic agriculture with a commitment to education and ecology
• Each year they buy enough renewable energy to produce their entire line of products and recycle 98% of their waste

Aged White Cheddar Pirate's Booty

• A vendor partner for 16 years, Pirate Brands supports our values by donating a portion of sales of this Booty to Whole Planet Foundation(tm)
• This resealable bag is a customer favorite snacking option free of gluten and trans fats
• Made with rice and corn blended with delicious aged white cheddar cheese and baked perfectly to pirate standards

Odwalla Smoothies and Functional Juices

• Odwalla is also turning 30 this year and began in our stores 22 years ago
• Their fruit smoothies, functional beverages and food bars have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
• Tantalize your senses and nourish your body, mind and spirit with Odwalla

Muir Glen Organic Canned Tomatoes

• Muir Glen has been on our shelves since 1991 when they asked us if we'd be interested in a new idea: organic canned tomatoes
• These are premium quality tomatoes feeding natural and organic customers for decades
• Look for their special Happy Birthday coupon and exciting sweepstakes offer

Kashi GOLEAN Crunch! Cereal

• Kashi donates a portion of sales of this product to our Whole Planet Foundation(tm)
• 9g protein and 8g fiber; twice the protein and fiber of average leading cereals to help you feel healthy and unhungry all morning long!
• Find a coupon in The Whole Deal value guide

Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oats Cereal

• Kashi donates a portion of sales of this product to our Whole Planet Foundation(tm)
• Created to give you more easy and tasty choices for your heart, with each and every ingredient chosen with your heart in mind
• Treat your heart right with ingredients to support healthy cholesterol and arteries

The Naked Juice Company Juices and Smoothies

• The Naked Juice Company has been a like-minded vendor partner of ours for more than 8 years
• 100% fruit juices and smoothies made from the best quality fruits including Rainforest Alliance bananas
• They have a new LEED-certified facility and purchase carbon credits to offset 100% of their company's electricity usage

Nature's Way Men's Multi-Vitamin Alive! Whole Food Energizer

• Nature's Way has been our vendor partner for all of our 30 years!
• Get 33% more free in this special happy birthday packaging of their most potent and complete multi-vitamin
• Energizing nutrients formulated for men's cardiovascular, prostate, energy and endurance needs

Nature's Way Women's Multi-Vitamin Alive! Whole Food Energizer

• Nature's Way has been our vendor partner for all of our 30 years!
• Get 33% more free in this special happy birthday packaging of their most potent and complete multi-vitamin
• Energizing nutrients formulated for women's bones, breasts health, reproductive and urinary systems and hair, skin and nails

Gaia Herbs Oil of Oregano

• We are pleased that Gaia Herbs has been our vendor partner for 20 years
• Vegetetarian liquid phyto-caps offer alcohol-free, clean and pure supercritical extraction with full-spectrum potency
• Oil of Oregano supports a healthy immune response

Gaia Herbs Olive Leaf

• We are pleased that Gaia Herbs has been our vendor partner for 20 years
• Vegetetarian liquid phyto-caps offer alcohol-free, clean and pure supercritical extraction with full-spectrum potency
• Olive Leaf antioxidants support a healthy immune response and the body's natural defenses

Gaia Herbs Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray

• We are pleased that Gaia Herbs has been our vendor partner for 20 years
• Unique formula in a convenient spray made organic and ecologically harvested herbs
• Supports a healthy immune system, inflammatory response to seasonal stressors and normal secretions from nose and eyes

Boiron Oscillococcinum

• Boiron put together this special 30-dose package in honor of our birthday and has been a valued vendor partner since 1983
• Relieves flu-like symptoms such as feeling run-down, headache, body aches, chills and fever
• No side effects, great taste and easy to take

Rainbow Light Vitamin D3 Sunny Gummies

• Rainbow Light has been our vendor partner for more than 20 years
• Best-selling 1000 IU Vitamin D gummies in value size + trial of Busy Brain Release
• Packaged in 100% recycled, new EcoGuard bottles, reducing carbon footprint by 78%

Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus + FOS

• High-quality, gluten-free probiotic for all ages
• Survives stomach acid and colonizes the intestines with 6 beneficial bacteria species
• FOS are natural carbohydrates that enhance replication of beneficial bacteria

Jarrow Formulas Alpha Lipoic Sustain 300

• 1/3 quick release and 2/3 sustained release in each tablet to support healthy consistent blood sugar levels
• Alpha Lipoic Acid is a unique antioxidant related to energy production, glucose metabolism and the synthesis of glutathione
• Biotin is added to promote optimum ALA activity

Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up

• Supports the retention of calcium in the bone matrix
• A combo of microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (MCHA) (from free-range Australian calves) with potassium citrate
• MK-7 (a form of vitamin K) and methyl B12 are added for additional osteo nutritional support

Jarrow Formulas Resveratrol 100

• A powerful antioxidant to support healthy cardiovascular function and capillary integrity
• Promotes the body's natural ability to inhibit LDL oxidation and regulate nitric oxide synthesis
• Contains 100 mg of resveratrols (3,4,5-trihydroxystilbenes) and resveratrol glucosides (piceids)

Jarrow Formulas Yum-Yum Dophilus

• Four strains of potent beneficial bacteria in a yummy chewable tablet
• Beneficial intestinal flora can be depleted by a diet that is low in fiber and high in meat and sugar, as well as by certain medications
• Supports balanced microorganism population in the intestine, healthy digestion and normal immune function

Whole Foods Market™ Organic Castile Soap

• Rich lathering in three refreshing varieties with no artificial colors or scents and certified to the same strict USDA standard as organic food
• Meets Premium Body Care(R) standards for results, safety, sourcing and environmental impact; made with organic apples(!) and in a 50% recycled content bottle
• Biodegradable all-purpose soap for loads of everyday bodycare and household uses without animal testing or ingredients

Amazing Grass Super Funky SuperFood

• Amazing Grass has been an amazing vendor partner with us for 7 years
• Retro Orange Creamsicle flavor is gluten free, soy free and vegan with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners
• 1 serving has the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables exclusively from whole food plants

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw One for Men

• Garden of Life supports our values by making a donation to Vitamin Angels for every purchase of this product
• Once-daily, gluten-free, dairy-free and whole-food, raw supplement
• Supports healthy prostate, heart health, stress response and digestion

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw One for Women

• Garden of Life supports our values by making a donation to Vitamin Angels for every purchase of this product
• Once-daily, gluten-free, dairy-free and whole-food, raw supplement
• Supports healthy heart, bones, breasts, reproductive system and skin

Hyland's Calms Forté

• Hyland's has been a valued vendor partner about as long as we've been in business
• Temporary symptomatic relief of sleeplessness, stress and anxiety without sedatives, alcohol, drug interactions or reported side effects
• America's #1 homeopathic sleep aid for over 50 years!

LUNA Protein Bars

• An indulgent high-protein bar specifically designed for women
• 12 grams of protein, high in calcium and folic acid, good source of fiber, iron and vitamin D
• Sweet satisfaction in Chocolate Peanut, Cookie Dough or Chocolate Cherry Almond

Clif C Bars

• Double layered fruit and nut bar with organic fruit and no artificial preservatives or hydrogenated fats
• One serving of fruit in each delicious bar with 130 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and a good source of fiber
• Keep one in your bag at all times for or on-the-go snacking

Aura Cacia Essential Oils

• 100% pure essential oils from a long-term trusted vendor partner
• Tested to confirm purity - no artificial scents, naturally!
• 4 popular varieties for everyday use: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint and Tea Tree

Wellshire Whole-y Smokes BBQ Seasoned Bacon

• Kudos to Wellshire for making this special bacon just for our 30th birthday!
• Great flavor with a unique BBQ seasoning and only 6 ingredients
• Produced to our strict meat standards, including no synthetic nitrates/nitrites and no antibiotics, ever

The Original Brat Hans Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage

• Hans is an old-world sausage maker who once worked as a butcher in one of our stores
• He is honoring our birthday with this special, limited edition flavor of his famous chicken sausage
• Produced to our strict poultry standards, including no synthetic nitrates/nitrites and no antibiotics, ever

The Original Brat Hans Original Bratwurst

• Hans is an old-world sausage maker who once worked as a butcher in one of our stores
• This authentic German-style Brat honors our birthday as it was one of the original 5 varieties he created for our stores years ago
• Produced to our strict meat standards, including no synthetic nitrates/nitrites and no antibiotics, ever

Changing Seas Hot Roasted Smoked Salmon

• A birthday present to us from Villa Farms in Norway, a vendor partner that exemplifies our commitment to responsible aquaculture
• Atlantic salmon slow roasted and smoked in Europe's premier smokehouse
• Smoky, rich flavor for salads, appetizers or pasta dishes in Pepper or Natural varieties

Cypress Grove Lil' Ziggy

• Award-winning chevre producer, Cypress Grove, honors our birthday with this special ziggaurat-inspired cheese
• Amazing flavor from a new blend of cultures for eating solo or enjoying with Sauvignon Blanc or dark wheat beer
• We hope enjoying Lil' Ziggy will bring you a little closer to the heavens!

Cowgirl Creamery Organic Buckaroo

• Our friends at Cowgirl Creamery made our birthday with this special cheese and let us hold a Team Member contest for the name
• Organic, washed rind and aged minimally 60 days, the cheese is made of milk from the renowned Straus Family Creamery in Marin County
• Creamy with fruity and savory components, it's fabulous as a table cheese, shaved over vegetables or in a grilled cheese sandwich

Whole Foods Market^® Birthday Cheddar, Aged 30 Months

• Get this special limited-edition Vermont Cheddar while you can, something new from our long-time friends at Organic Valley
• It was created just in time to age 30 months for our 30th birthday!
• Nice and creamy with a pleasant crisp and sharp finish, it's perfect for mac and cheese, burgers or party trays

Allegro Coffee Company^® Whole Foods Market^® Birthday Blend

• A birthday honor from the vendor that we loved so much, we asked them to become part of Whole Foods Market(R) decades ago
• A medium-roast blend of Guatemala and Ethiopian beans with layered notes of dark chocolate, dried apricots and strawberries
• Available Whole Bean or Ground in Allegro's special one-way-valve packaging for freshness

Parducci Sustainable White

• The first carbon-neutral winery in the US, Parducci shares our values and committment to quality, community and the environment
• Crisp, clean aromas with flavors of citrus and melon
• Enjoy with fresh salads, the best chicken you can get and organic vegetable dishes

Parducci Sustainable Red

• The first carbon-neutral winery in the US, Parducci shares our values and committment to quality, community and the environment
• A robust, dry Red with berry fruit flavors and spicy complexities
• Enjoy with pasta, pizza, grilled meats and flavorful cheeses

Innovación Torrontés-Pinot Grigio

• A real bargain from a vintner who shares our commitment to the planet and its people with conservation and social-welfare programs
• Soft, fresh, elegant and balanced with ripe fruit such as peach, pear and citrus
• Lovely as an aperitif, or pair with salads, pastas with cream sauces, grilled seafood, roast chicken and soft cheeses

Innovación Malbec-Tempranillo

• A real bargain from a vintner who shares our commitment to the planet and its people with conservation and social-welfare programs
• Complex aromas of plum, cherry, blackberry and a hint of spice; silky palate and great structure with soft tannins and a long finish
• Food friendly with grilled/roasted red meat, pizza, pastas with tomato-based sauces and firm cheeses

Dogfish Head Brewery Recycled Glass Pint Glasses

• Raise a glass to our 30th birthday, and make that recycled while you're at it
• These special pint glasses were made from recycled glass by Dogfish Head Brewery in our honor
• Get your commemorative piece of Whole Foods Market(r) history today!

Samuel Smith Organic Fruit Beer

• A lovely birthday gesture, Samuel Smith's starts this unique, authentic brew in a small historical brewery in Lincolnshire
• The complex multiple yeast strains used in fermentation lead to a beautiful marriage with richly flavorful, ripe organic fruit
• Wonderful for pairing with cheeses and meals, choose from Strawberry, Raspberry or Cherry

Whole Foods Market^® Birthday Cake

• In true Whole Foods Market^® style, stores in different areas baked different takes on a blood orange mousse birthday cake
• If you're a traveller, you might have the good fortune to try more than one version by visiting our stores in different regions!
• No matter where you are, they're all true to our style with no hydrogenated fats or artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners

GlutenFree Bakehouse™

• Everyone gets to join the celebration with our gluten-free cupcakes!
• Amazing home-made flavor from our own dedicated bakehouse where no gluten ingredients are allowed
• Don't forget the candles!