Rhapsody in Chow
Hip and health-conscious Whole Foods has set the table for success
If there were an award for animal quality of life, Whole Foods would probably earn that one as well. The company requires that its meat be free of hormones and dangerous additives and that it come from animals that are allowed to roam at least somewhat freely. The company's Animal Compassion Foundation works with farmers to improve conditions for farm animals. And the grocery's sheer size has given it the clout to make demands about how its products are farmed. Mackey knows he's made himself an easy target for cynics by discussing the importance of, say, duck relationships while counting what's in the register drawer. But he'll take the digs. "We've got pig producers trying to out-compassion each other," he beams. "And more companies are going to have to be like us, because we're going to win." That makes Mackey a vegetarian in hog heaven.
AT A GLANCE
Founded: 1980 in Austin
CEO and founder: John Mackey
Annual sales: $3.9 billion
Net 2004 income: $129.5 million
Number of stores: 170
Employees: 32,000
Most popular products: Sonoma chicken salad, kung pao tofu, forbidden rice, chocolate-chip peanut butter
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