We are sorry
that there is no English translation available on this title and this is
not an article about the topics. Instead, an
introductory information hereby referred is a partial extraction of the
web site pages at both companies of Whole Foods Markets and Wild Oats while
they appeared as one of the leading super markets in U.S. specializing
organic foods: report by one of famous think tanks from Tokyo on
"U.S. Organic Markets". (Editor)
Whole Foods Market was
founded in Austin, Texas, when three local businessmen decided the
natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Our founders
were John Mackey, owner of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and
Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole
Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an
immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen
natural food supermarkets in the United States. We have grown by leaps
and bounds since our first store opened. Much of the growth of our
company has been accomplished through mergers and acquisitions. The
story of Whole Foods is incomplete without honoring these notable
companies in their own right.
Whole Food Company (WFC)
opened its doors in New Orleans in October 1974. Its mission was to be a
grocery store featuring good, wholesome food; not a "health
food" store filled with pills and potions. Sales doubled each year
for the first four years. By 1978, the store (only 1100 square feet) was
doing more than $1 million per year. Success was fueled by a committed
staff who were all stockholders in the company.
In 1981, WFC opened a larger store on
Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. WFC becamethe largest outside customer
of Texas Health Distributors, the wholesale division of Whole Foods
Market. In May of 1988, the Esplanade store became the sixth Whole Foods
Market. <!--Former WFC President Peter Roy moved to California to
help launch Whole Foods Market in that region. In 1993, he became
President of Whole Foods Market, and at the end of 1998, he left the
company to pursue other interests.
Wild Oats Markets, Inc., North America's
premier natural foods retailer, is a family of 110+ natural supermarkets.
We operate stores under the brands Wild Oats Community Market, Alfalfa's,
Nature's Fresh, Henry's, Sun Harvest, Capers in Canada, among others
across the United States.
In 1987, Mike
Gilliland and partner/wife Libby Cook, bought Crystal Market - a
completely vegetarian operation - in Boulder, Colorado. Excited by the
potential for bringing delicious, natural foods to America, it wasn't
long before they opened Wild Oats Community Market in South Boulder, and
the family was started.
Founded on the ideas
of community, organic, right livelihood and stewardship of the earth,
Wild Oats believes in Organikarma: what goes around comes around. Wild
Oats founded the 5% Day Charitable giving program, and many corporations
have echoed this community support program across the nation. In 1999,
Wild Oats was honored to receive the Ethical Business of the Year Award.
The company was also honored as the Colorado Retail Business of the
Year, and received the Millenium Trust Supernova award, the highest
award given by the Community Foundation of Boulder County for
extraordinary commitment to helping build the community and inspiring
charitable giving over the years. Wild Oats donated more than $1,500,000
to grass roots and community organizations in 1999.
In October 1996, Wild
Oats Markets, Inc. issued their Initial Public Offering. The stock is
traded under "OATS" on the NASDAQ.
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