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Conversations From the Corner Office
BIO
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey
John Mackey is co-founder and chief executive officer of Whole Foods Market, Inc., based in Austin, Texas. He is widely credited with helping fuel the rise of organic and natural food in the United States.
Mackey found his passion for organic foods in an unusual manner. In his early 20s, he joined a vegetarian cooperative even though he wasn't vegetarian. He thought living in a co-op would be a great way to meet women. And he was right. He met his girlfriend and eventual business partner Renee Lawson, and he also experienced what he called a "food awakening." In 1978, that epiphany led him and Lawson to open a natural foods grocery store called Safer Way, a counterculture alternative to conventional grocery chain Safeway. Mackey didn't have an MBA, but he claims to have gotten the perfect education for launching a retail store by studying philosophy. Safer Way struggled during its first two years, and he and Lawson eventually teamed up with two competitors to form Whole Foods, Inc.
Mackey attributes the success of Whole Foods to his application of Libertarian philosophies and free-market principles. He says he runs the company "with a conscience." Whole Foods is considered the first major grocery chain to adopt humane treatment standards for animals. Mackey says he gets "a sense of deep meaning and purpose" by helping others improve their quality of life with natural food.
Prior to launching Safer Way, Mackey tried his hand at being a college student. He attended two universities, but dropped out six times. Still, he says he notched 130 credit hours in electives, mostly in religion and philosophy.
Today, Mackey lives on a 720-acre ranch west of Austin with his wife, Deborah. They practice yoga and meditation. Mackey has two books in the works: "The Whole Story," which talks about the company's birth and his business philosophies, and "The FLOW Papers," a collection of essays about a nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2003.
Mackey loves to read, debate politics, and engage fans and critics on his blog.
RELATED LINKS
CO-FOUNDER, CEO AND CHAIRMAN JOHN MACKEY
Whole Foods Market Inc. history
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