I worked at WFM years ago. John Mackey is a notorious nutball. He started the store with good intentions, and clearly struck a chord with an audience. But I was there in a period of rapid expansion, and I saw employee complaints and suggestions go no further than the store manager. Our benefits were cut, and it became more difficult to get those benefits. I don't know whether to say this guy is an example of "good intentions gone wrong" or "power and money corrupt" or something else; but it's obvious that regardless of where he started, he now has little grasp on reality and seems to think that because he experienced success in one thing that any concept generated from within his warped brain must necessarily be correct.
Plus the WFM bakery uses HFCS! Not very wholesome.
I think John is great example of "success at one ... thinks he knows everything" other members of the club including Kurzweil, Jobs, and Donald Trump.
Whole foods definitely has a theory that some people deserve better food and how they earn that privilege is by being wealthy.
Seriously man. It's like they say, 'Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.'
WFM may have started with grass roots, but it quickly found its niche in affluence, and made the most of that. Even today when I go to one of the nearby WFMs, I see most of the customers driving Lexus and BMW, wearing very nice clothes and jewelry; while the employees of the stores look like ruffians.
Magic food for rich people. in Wilmington a lot of those lexuses (lexi) had Tea party bumper-stickers. Nothing I hate more than conservative hippies.