Whole Foods Market

"My journey with Whole Foods Market began 17 years ago at our Union Square store. Fresh out of high school, I started as a part-time Team Member in the Seafood department to help cover household expenses and support my mom who was a single parent. Working at Whole Foods was a way for me to contribute financially and ease some of that burden. Over the years, I’ve held a variety of roles, moving from Team Member to Supervisor, Associate Team Leader, Team Leader, and eventually into Store Leadership. I’ve had the opportunity to work in 11 different Whole Foods Market stores and across two operational regions, from low-volume locations to high-volume stores including my most recent assignment at the iconic Columbus Circle store. Each experience has helped shape my leadership journey and deepened my commitment to our mission and values. As the Store Team Leader for our new Hoboken location in New Jersey, what I’m most looking forward to is connecting with a new community on behalf of Whole Foods Market. I strongly believe in our Core Values, and I’m excited to bring our highest quality selections to a neighborhood that’s new to our brand with the goal of satisfying and delighting every customer who walks through our doors. The Daily Shop concept presents a unique opportunity to train, mentor and develop the next generation of leaders within the company, and I’m honored to be part of that journey. Plus, I’m a big foodie, so I can’t wait to experience and share great food with both our team and our community! I’ve stayed with Whole Foods Market because I truly believe in the company’s mission and the growth they encourage. During my time at the Chelsea store, I learned the craft of a butcher a skill I can carry with me anywhere. I was provided tools to build a platform, and I've used it further my career, create job opportunities and educate others about the great food we offer. I appreciate the diversity and inclusiveness that #TeamWFM embraces, where a young Latino man from uptown Manhattan can build a meaningful career and make a difference in his community. For that, and so much more, I’m truly grateful." - Victor Luciano, Daily Shop Store Leader #NSO #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing

"I am delighted to welcome the Brevard County community to our first Whole Foods Market in the area. Whether you’re grabbing lunch, picking up party food and drinks or restocking your pantry, we’ve got you covered with the perfect balance of high quality and value.” — Tim Martin, Store Team Leader #ICYMI: Earlier this month, a new 37,000 square-foot store opened its doors in The Crossings at Viera in Rockledge, FL. This Rockledge location is the first store in Brevard County and the debut location on Florida’s “Space Coast.” This store’s product assortment features more than 450 local items from Florida, sourced with the help of Forager for Local & Emerging Brands, Dustin Kennedy. Highlights from the day included: 🥳 Welcoming 500+ customers in the first hour with music, tote bags, and local goodies 🫶 Donating to The Children's Hunger Project and Sharing Center of Central Brevard, and Nana’s Children’s Home via Nourishing our Neighborhoods partner Florida Food Banks to aid food waste prevention and the surrounding community 🥑 A curated grocery section filled with exclusive brand favorites and local products, including guacamole from Glaser Organic Farms, orange juice from 305 Squeezed and Pistachio Chocotella gelato pops from Gelatys 🍤 The full-service seafood counter featuring grouper and red snapper from Greg Abrams Seafood, gulf shrimp and Key West pink shrimp from Cox's Seafood and Littleneck clams from Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms 🧼 Wellness & Beauty section featuring more than 75 local products, including batch artisan bar soaps from LOLABLUE, TrueFit protein powder from RSP Nutrition and face and body care from Acure 🍺 An extensive selection of hundreds of craft beers and local options, including Tropical Bay IPA from Biscayne Bay Brewing Company, Bench Life Lager from Green Bench Brewing Company and pilsner from Orange Blossom Brewing Company 💚 Immense gratitude to Store Team Leader Tim Martin, Associate Store Team Leaders Abigail Freiberg and Jason Nieves, and all the Team Members at Viera for a beautiful opening day! #NSO #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"I started working at Whole Foods Market right before the pandemic in March 2019 as a Pastry Production Team Member at the Whole Foods Bakehouse. After seven months in that role, I transferred to become a Cake Decorator. I had 10 years of cake decorating experience prior to Whole Foods, so it was a pleasure to jump back into what I already knew. After 10 months, I went back to the Bakehouse in Florida and was soon introduced to the Culture Champion program by a fellow Team Member. By this point, I was amazed with everything I was learning about Whole Foods and eager to learn more. I applied to be the Culture Champion Ambassador for my facility and the Pastry Production Supervisor in March 2025, and I'm proud to say I got both. 🥳 It's been an absolute pleasure being a Culture Champion and attending the 'In the Field with Jason' trip in Maine and Vermont was a special achievement. I got to see the 'behind-the-scenes' of the products we use at work, our homes and eat on the regular. Seeing the dairy farms, feeding the cows and watching them be milked were very unique, full-circle moments for me. Also, I'm a cheese lover, so witnessing the processes of how cheese is made at Jasper Hill was so amazing. A major highlight of the trip was getting to spend time with King Arthur, a product and brand I'm very familiar with. Another major highlight? Winning the baking competition! It was hilarious: As the resident baker, everyone wanted to be on my team. I had such fun with my group: We worked together, took turns with everything and put a lot of love into our scones. When they announced the winner during lunch, I was shocked, but it made my day that much better. That morning, I found out that my little brother passed away and it was hard for me. The team made sure I was comfortable and checked on me frequently. They asked if I wanted to go home, but I didn't want to — we were leaving the next day, and I wanted to enjoy the trip I was so happy and honored to be on. It was hard, but winning the competition and the wonderful people I was surrounded by helped me through the day. I don't regret anything at all." - Ro Burton, Pastry Supervisor #InTheField #TeamWFM

"My Whole Foods Market journey started back in 2021 as a Bread Baker at the Oakville, ON location. After nine months, I got the chance to jump into the pastry side of our Bakery department — I literally leapt with joy. Cake decorating has always been my passion, and I’ve worked in different pastry and baking settings before, but Whole Foods was the first place that really let me showcase my creativity. Since then, I’ve been learning, practicing and growing my skills every single day. In June 2024, I moved back to Ottawa, ON and transferred to our Lansdowne store. It was sad saying goodbye to Oakville, but I was super excited to learn from a whole new team of amazing decorators. Shortly after, Sean joined the team as a Cake Decorator Apprentice, and I became his Instructor. Teaching was new for me, but it ended up being really rewarding to share what I’d learned over the years to someone just starting out. Mentoring has been an affirming reminder of just how far I’ve come and pushes me to keep improving. That's something I love about Whole Foods: Its apprenticeship programs give people the opportunity to find their passion and grow into new roles. At other jobs I often heard 'no' because I didn’t have enough experience. Here, the answer was 'yes,' and it’s made all the difference. What I enjoy most about cake decorating is the creativity and the joy it brings people. There’s nothing better than seeing someone’s face light up when they pick up a cake you’ve decorated just for them — it makes all the piping and frosting worth it!" - Jaclyn VanHoof, Bakery Decorator #Apprenticeship #Bakery #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"My Whole Foods Market 'why' is to help the community and our Team Members! I would not be where I am today without the help of so many. My past Team Leaders and mentors Breanne Kindred and Frank Catapano have been great guides for me, and I do my best to pass it on, building up my Team Members with the same encouragement and support these two special individuals have done for me. I learned from one of my Store Team Leaders that this is a people business: We're here, in our local communities, nourishing people, nourishing the planet. There's a lot that we do in our communities that I don't think people know about, but we like it that way. We're a small store, but we're mighty, and we love supporting our neighbors and working to give back when and however we can. Take today's Field Day here in Boston, MA: Being able to meet so many Team Members that work in the area and volunteer with Eastie Farm was an incredible way to start the day. We learned about the community they're building, their partnership with Whole Foods Market Foundation and spent time cleaning up their gardens and packing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) bags with fresh veggies to help feed local families. Most of their usual volunteers are back at school, so a group of us are seeing how we can be of service in the weeks to come. That's what I love about #TeamWFM: We're all teamwork, all the time. Some of the best advice I received from one of my mentors was to 'take risks and know that we got you.' We have systems in place to make changes a little less scary and people that make it all the more fun. I've been with Whole Foods for about 10 years, starting at our Ink Block store in Boston, MA, as a licensed esthetician. Back then, we had a little spa — it was short lived, but it let me pivot into our Specialty department (learned a lot about cheese, had a GREAT time there) and then later to our Whole Body department as an Order Writer. I continued in Whole Body, becoming an Associate Team Leader with incredible mentors, and then came back to work in the same location my father ironically did when the store was originally a First National Super Market back in the 1940s-50s. It later became a Bread & Circus in the 70's, and is now the Cambridge Prospect Street store that I now call my home away from home. It's days like today that reinforce that notion." - Sheila Nicholas, Grocery & Whole Body Team Leader #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

"I am proud to work for a purpose-driven, values-based employer like Whole Foods Market, where we honor those who serve our local communities and nation. Thank you to all levels of our organization for supporting and accommodating our Team Members and deepest gratitude to our amazing Team Members!" - Tim Kohn, CPSP, Retirement Principal Benefits Analyst Last October, Whole Foods Market veterans, advocates and supporters were joined by members of the Department of Defense (DOD) Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) to honor those in our workforce who serve and our commitment to bridging transitions from active service to civilian work. This ceremony shows our Team Members (Veterans and members of the Guard and Reserves) that Whole Foods Market goes above and beyond the law and provides accommodations when conducting official duties. Over the years, our Team Members have recommended their respective Team Leaders 12 times for awards from the ESGR for supporting their time away from work. This ceremonial signing further indicates to our current team, future Team Members and their families that we value their service and make every effort to accommodate their time away from work. "The way Whole Foods Market supports their Guard and Reserve service members is an example for other businesses throughout the state and country." - Richard J. (Rick) Noriega, Major General (Retired), ESGR Texas State Chair #VeteransDay #TeamWFM

#ICYMI: Our fourth Daily Shop has arrived in Arlington, VA. 🙌 Nestled within the Crystal City neighborhood, it is the first Daily Shop to be located outside of New York City. At more than 10,000 square feet, it is our largest Daily Shop to date — featuring more than 250 local items from the broader DMV area and surrounding states. Highlights from the day include: ☕️ Sharing early morning cups of joe and local goodies with 300 of our newest friends 🫶 Contributing in-kind product and donations to support the incredible work of area non-profits Northern Virginia Food Rescue, Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and ALIVE! 🥟 Presenting D.C.-based supplier Laoban Dumplings with a low-interest loan 🦀 Exploring the hundreds of local products and brands, like Rice Fruit Company, Jimmy's Famous Seafood and La Pasta Inc. — sourced with the help of Forager Daniela D’Ambrosio 💚 Congratulations to our Store Team Leader Jose Gomez, Associate Store Team Leader Abel Mekonnen and our more than 50 Crystal City Team Members! #NSO #NourishPurpose #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"Being a Team Member with Whole Foods Market and being on In the Field just reminds me of when I first joined the company: Being able to be fulfilled by actually understanding what a farm was, and to be able to live that through the eyes of someone else who hasn't experienced it. It's not a story I have the great pleasure of telling, but all of us have the great pleasure of telling — and bringing it to new generations and new Team Members." - Cathy Strange, Ambassador of Food Culture Fifteen Culture Champions from across Whole Foods Market joined together in Maine and Vermont for our second In the Field With Jason trip of the year. For four days, Team Members experienced our unique, deep roots in this area and the lasting relationships we have with suppliers and farmers that support the positive ripple effects we see throughout supply chains, communities and the lands they serve. Some notable highlights from the trip included: 🍻Being welcomed with locally sourced flowers from Fresh Pickins Farm and an interactive brewery tour with the folks at Allagash Brewing Company 🌾 Hearing stories about building products with integrity from area suppliers Pete & Gerry's Organics, LLC, One Mighty Mill and Stonyfield, and how our collaborations support their investments in local farms 🍅 Volunteering with Whole Cities partner Cultivating Community in their community garden, which supports the organization’s mission of striving for food justice in the Greater Portland area 🧀 Tasting cheeses and exploring Jasper Hill Farm 1,000-acre pasture and European-style cheese caves 🪏 Conducting soil sampling at Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, a non-profit farm dedicated to more sustainable agriculture 🐮 Learning about our supplier partner Stonyfield Farms' partnership with Wolfe’s Neck to create apprenticeships for new and transitioning commercial organic dairy farms 🥖 Team Members competing in a 'bake off' at King Arthur Baking Company's facilities, a company with baking expertise that goes all the way back to the American Revolution 😋 Dining on courses with Michelin-starred chef Dan Barber and seventh-generation farmer Nolan Masser — President of Red Hill Farms, which grows Upstate Abundance Potatoes for the innovative seed company co-founded by Chef Barber, Row 7 Seed Company 💚 And of course, it’s not a Whole Foods Market trip without a stop at a local store. Team Members checked out the local Portland location, currently our one and only store in Maine, to see how they feature region-specific products and celebrate long-term relationships with suppliers Immense appreciations to the suppliers and partners who shared their work, passions and stories with us! #Vermont #Maine #InTheFieldWFM #TeamWFM

"After reading all about the growth opportunities and deep Team Member culture at Whole Foods Market, I joined the team in 2010 at the (then) new Lake Grove store in New York. Shortly after starting, I knew I made the right decision, and 15 years later, I'm proud to still work for a company that aligns with my values and truly believes in their Team Members' Growth and Happiness. I am so ecstatic to become a Daily Shop Store Leader and cannot wait to infuse our strong ethos into the brand new Brooklyn Grand Street Daily Shop! I began my career as a Prepared Foods Team Member and quickly found my role in the Whole Body department, starting as an Order Writer, then Associate Team Leader and eventually Whole Body Team Leader. Over the years, I built lifetime bonds with amazing Team Members and leaders across several locations. They inspired me, pushed me and supported my growth into the leader I am today; with their encouragement, I gained the confidence to become an Associate Store Team Leader in 2023. I held this role at our Fort Greene and Williamsburg locations in Brooklyn, NY, and must say being a part of store leadership has been my favorite adventure at Whole Foods thus far. The reason I stay at Whole Foods is the reason I started: our culture. At every instance throughout my career, I made a point to stay heavily involved, and found immense purpose in our Culture Champion and Community Giving programs. As a Whole Cities Community First Grant Team Member, I get to partner with an amazing organization that focuses on supporting our local community. This work brings my team and I such great motivation and joy. For me, the best part of our culture is what you feel when you walk in the store — the energy, the teamwork and the excitement. I am thrilled that I get to open and lead the Brooklyn Grand Street Daily Shop! It will be the fifth Daily Shop in the company's history and the first in Brooklyn. This new format is such an amazing concept for Whole Foods customers, providing our community with a quick, convenient shopping experience. My team and I look forward to proudly being a part of the Daily Shop community and cannot wait for you all to check us out!" - Margot Sansone, Store Team Leader #NSO #NourishPeople #TeamWFM