Whole Foods 2007 Annual Report Download - page 11

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certification organization. This voluntary certification tells our customers that we have gone the extra mile by not only
following the USDA’s Organic Rule, but following a strict set of operating procedures designed to ensure that the products
we sell and label as organic are indeed organic – procedures that are not specifically required by the Organic Rule.
QAI’s Organic Certification Program for Retailers verifies businesses handle organic goods according to stringent national
guidelines, from receipt through re-packing to final sale to customers. To receive certification, retailers must agree to adhere
to a strict set of standards set forth by the USDA, submit documentation, and open their facilities to on-site inspections – all
designed to assure Americans that the chain of organic integrity is preserved. The certification is one more example of our
commitment to the promotion of organic agriculture and the integrity of the certified organic label.
Business Strategy
Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket. We believe that much of our success to
date is because we remain a uniquely mission-driven Company. We are highly selective about what we sell. We believe in
providing an empowering work environment for our team members, and we are committed to sustainable agriculture. Our
motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet,” emphasizes that our vision reaches far beyond just food retailing.
Whole Foods
We obtain our products locally and from all over the world, often from small, uniquely dedicated food artisans. We strive to
offer the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful and naturally preserved foods. We believe that food in its purest
state, unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservatives, is the best tasting and most nutritious
food available.
Whole People
We recruit the best people we can to become part of our team. We empower them to make many operational decisions,
creating a respectful workplace where team members are treated fairly and are highly motivated to succeed. We look for
team members who are passionate about food, but also well-rounded human beings who can play a critical role in helping to
build our Company into a profitable and beneficial part of every community in which we operate.
Whole Planet
We believe companies, like individuals, must assume their share of responsibility for our planet. We actively support organic
farming on a global basis because we believe it is the best method for promoting sustainable agriculture and protecting the
environment and farm workers. On a local basis, we are actively involved in our communities by supporting food banks,
sponsoring neighborhood events, and contributing at least 5% of our after-tax profits in the form of cash or products to not-
for-profit organizations.
In October 2007, Whole Foods Market received the Green Power Partner of the Year award from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (“EPA”) for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes our leadership in accelerating the
development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide after increasing our green power purchasing to include more than
509 million kilowatt hours of wind-based renewable energy credits. This is enough renewable energy to offset 100 percent of
the electricity used in all of our stores and facilities in the U.S. and Canada. This was the fourth consecutive year the
Company was recognized with a green power leadership award by the EPA.
Core Values
Our core values reflect what is truly important to us as an organization. They are the underpinning of our corporate culture
and the soul of our Company. They transcend our size and growth rate, so regardless of how large we become, by
maintaining our core values we are able to preserve what has always been special about our Company. Our five stated core
values include:
• selling the highest quality natural and organic products available;
• satisfying and delighting our customers;
• supporting team member happiness and excellence;
• creating wealth through profits and growth; and
• caring about our communities and our environment.
These core values speak to our belief in a balanced way of doing business. They very succinctly express the purpose of our
business, which is not only to make profits, but to create value for all of our major stakeholders – our customers, team