Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief marketing and communications officer for Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market, discussed the grocer’s point of view on regenerative agriculture and outlined its focus on caring for communities and the environment during Shoptalk 2022, held March 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During a fireside chat with Erin Hiatt, VP of corporate social responsibility at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Oblisk described what regenerative agriculture means to Whole Foods Market and highlighted various initiatives underpinning Whole Foods Market’s commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship to supplier relationships and community engagement.
“We’re really excited about what’s to come with regenerative agriculture. Our first step on this journey was to have the Quality Standards team establish a definition, which we consider holistic farming and grazing management practices, that improve soil health, that enhance biodiversity and the increased carbon capture,” Oblisk said. “It’s really the next big thing for us, as a way for us to do better in the world.”
Oblisk also discussed Whole Foods Market’s 2021 Social Impact Report, which outlines the company’s commitment to caring for employees, reducing the company’s environmental footprint, thoughtfully sourcing products and strengthening communities.
“For the past four decades, we’ve been pioneering food standards. Whether it’s been our work on animal welfare and helping establish the global animal partnership, or our work on ingredient standards and banning hundreds of ingredients from any products in our store, or our work in social responsibility and our Source for Good program which is really about serving workers, communities, and the environments with the social premium,” Oblisk said.
As chief marketing and communications officer, Oblisk leads Whole Foods Market’s marketing, consumer insights and corporate communications functions and oversees the prime member program. Through Oblisk’s customer-centric approach, she advances Whole Foods Market’s purpose and builds on the company’s legacy of industry-defining leadership in grocery.
To learn more about Whole Foods Market, visit media.wholefoodsmarket.com.
