In a Sept. 30 letter to Whole Foods Market employees, co-founder and CEO John Mackey announced his retirement. He also stated that Jason Beuchel, chief operating officer, will become the new CEO.
“September marked Whole Foods Market’s 43rd anniversary (including two years at Safer Way – the precursor to Whole Foods), and I’ve decided that it’s time to begin to transition my role as CEO to the next generation of leadership,” Mackey stated in the letter. “I have thought long and hard about this, and while it is still surreal to write, I have decided to retire on Sept. 1, 2022. That is just about 11 months from today.”
He stated the difficulty of retiring from a company he helped to “create, nourish and grow” for 44 years.
“As a co-founder of Whole Foods, I’ve often explained my relationship to the company with a parent-child metaphor,” Mackey stated. “As a parent, I have always loved Whole Foods with all my heart. I have done my best to instill strong values, a clear sense of higher purpose beyond profits and a loving culture that allows the company and all our interdependent stakeholders to flourish. All parents reach a time when they must let go and trust that the values imparted will live on within their children. That time has nearly come for me and for Whole Foods.”
Mackey stated that Buechel, who will take over as CEO upon Mackey’s retirement, “is a true servant leader and champion of Whole Foods’ culture and values, and he will lead the company into the future. Jason was my personal choice to replace me as the CEO, and I’m pleased Amazon leadership agreed that he is the right person for the role.”
Buechel joined Whole Foods in 2013 as global VP and chief information officer and was promoted in 2015 to EVP before being named chief operating officer in 2019. In addition to being responsible for the operations of all WFM stores and facilities, he also currently oversees technology, supply chain and distribution and Team Member Services.
“Buechel is one of my most trusted partners, and I’m incredibly confident that the company will continue to evolve and thrive under his leadership,” Mackey stated. “Jason has a number of very special qualities that will help him succeed as our next CEO. Not only is he extraordinarily intelligent with unusually high integrity, he is also a servant leader who lives and embodies Whole Foods core values and leadership principles and is fundamentally just a good and loving person.”
Mackey stated he will continue to work closely with Buechel and the executive team to gradually transition his responsibilities. He also stated he intends to visit stores and connect with team members during much of his final year.
“As I reflect on our company’s history and impact on the world, I am inspired, exceptionally proud and a little overwhelmed. The success of Whole Foods Market has created tremendous value for all our stakeholders, including our customers, team members, suppliers, investors and our communities,” Mackey stated. “Working together, we have helped tens of millions of people live healthier lives, and it is not an exaggeration to say that Whole Foods has impacted very positively the way many people in America and around the world eat.
“We have created a very special culture that led to our being named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ for 20 consecutive years. I am very proud of the role we’ve played in advancing how food is grown, produced and sourced matters, and fulfilling our higher purpose to nourish people and the planet is what makes Whole Foods so much more than just a grocery store.”
He stated he is proud of the many small local food companies that Whole Foods helped launch in its stores, hundreds of which have grown to be large and successful companies.
Of the many achievement he is proud of, Mackey stated he especially wanted to recognize the work of the company’s three foundations have done over the past 20 years – Whole Planet, Whole Kids and Whole Cities.
“Many people can go their entire lives without ever discovering their higher purpose, but I was lucky enough to discover mine back in 1976, when I was living in a vegetarian co-op named Prana House in Austin – two years before we first opened Safer Way,” Mackey stated. “My food consciousness was first awakened at Prana and I began to discover what I was called to do in this life. How fortunate I have been to live in such a fulfilling way.”
