Amazon.com, Inc. owns Whole Foods Market, having acquired the grocery chain in August 2017 for $13.7 billion. In January 2026, Amazon announced plans to open 100 new Whole Foods stores while closing all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations.
Key Statistics
- Amazon paid $13.7 billion to acquire Whole Foods on August 28, 2017, at $42 per share.
- Whole Foods operates 549 stores across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as of 2026.
- Annual sales reached $22.4 billion in early 2026, a 40% increase since the Amazon deal.
- Amazon’s market capitalization stood at $2.84 trillion in May 2026.
- Jeff Bezos holds 8.8% of Amazon’s outstanding shares, valued at $255 billion.
Who Owns Whole Foods Market?
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) holds 100% of Whole Foods Market. The Seattle-based technology company completed the $13.7 billion all-cash acquisition on August 28, 2017.
Whole Foods operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary. No public shares of Whole Foods trade independently, and no minority investors hold stakes in the grocer.
Whole Foods Origin, Founders and Early Years
John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open SaferWay in Austin, Texas, in 1978. The small natural foods shop was named as a play on Safeway.
Two years later, they merged with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The first Whole Foods Market opened on September 20, 1980, at 10,500 square feet with 19 employees on North Lamar Boulevard.
Whole Foods Growth Through Acquisitions
The company went public on NASDAQ in 1992 and expanded through regional acquisitions, including Bread & Circus, Fresh Fields, and Wild Oats Markets. Amazon acquired the chain in 2017, ending its 25-year run as a public company. Quantumrun’s scenario modeling and trend reports map similar retail consolidation patterns for clients planning long-horizon strategy.
Largest Shareholders of Whole Foods
Amazon.com, Inc.
- Sole owner since 2017
- Holds 100% equity
- Public ticker: NASDAQ: AMZN
- Market cap: $2.84 trillion
Jeff Bezos
- Amazon founder, Executive Chair
- Owns 8.8% of Amazon shares
- Largest individual stakeholder
- Stake valued at $255 billion
Vanguard Group
- Top institutional Amazon holder
- Stake: 6.8% of Amazon stock
- Holding worth $169 billion
- Operates via index funds
BlackRock, Inc.
- Second-largest institutional holder
- Stake: 6.8% of Amazon stock
- Holding worth $197 billion
- Active across iShares ETFs
State Street Corp.
- Third-largest institutional holder
- Stake: 3.6% of Amazon stock
- Holding worth $104 billion
- SPDR ETF manager
Who Is on the Board of Directors for Whole Foods?
Executive Leadership
Jason Buechel — CEO, Whole Foods Market
Appointed CEO in September 2022 after John Mackey retired. In January 2025, his role expanded to Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores. He joined Whole Foods in 2013 as CIO.
John B. Elstrott — Chairman
Founding Director of the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University, Elstrott has served on the Whole Foods board for more than two decades.
Parent Company Oversight
Andy Jassy — CEO, Amazon
Oversees the parent company that owns Whole Foods. Jassy succeeded Jeff Bezos as Amazon CEO in July 2021.
Doug Herrington — CEO, Amazon Worldwide Stores
Buechel reports directly to Herrington, who oversees the integrated grocery strategy spanning Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon’s grocery delivery network.
Merchandising and Operations
Sonya Gafsi Oblisk — Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer
Leads private-label expansion, including the 2025 launch of Whole Foods Exclusive Brands in Singapore — the company’s first move into Asia.
Whole Foods Mission Statement
The company’s mission centers on nourishing people and the planet. Whole Foods commits to selling the highest-quality natural and organic products, supporting team member excellence and growth, and serving customers with respect.
The company also pledges to support local communities, source from suppliers using sustainable practices, and ban more than 550 ingredients from its shelves, including hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners.
This ingredient standard applies across stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and informs every private-label product carried under the 365 by Whole Foods Market brand.
Whole Foods Products and Services
365 by Whole Foods Market
- Private label launched 1997
- 3,500+ products in the line
- Produce, pasta, oats, coffee, supplements
- Nationwide Amazon delivery since 2023
Whole Foods Exclusive Brand
- Culinary-forward food range
- Specialty sauces, oils, condiments
- Sold in stores and via Amazon
- Launched in Singapore in 2025
Whole Paws
- Private-label pet food brand
- Dog and cat nutrition products
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Available across all regions served
Prepared Foods
- Hot bars, salad bars, sushi counters
- Bakery and pizza departments
- Catering and event services
- Available in most store formats
Online and Delivery
- Free Prime member delivery
- Same-day pickup at most stores
- Amazon Fresh integration
- 365 line ships to all 50 states
Additional Departments
- Pharmacy, flowers, alcohol
- Body care and supplements
- RaiseWell Certified beef program
- General merchandise selection
How Did Whole Foods Get Its Name?
The name traces back to founders John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, who first ran a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin. The name was a play on Safeway, the conventional supermarket chain, signaling their alternative approach.
In 1980, SaferWay merged with Clarksville Natural Grocery, owned by Craig Weller and Mark Skiles. The four founders chose Whole Foods Market for the combined store, with “whole foods” referring to minimally processed products free from artificial additives.
The name captured the founding principle that has defined the chain for 45 years: unrefined, natural, and organic foods sold without preservatives or hydrogenated fats. Quantumrun’s strategic foresight services often examine how founding brand decisions shape company identity decades later.
FAQs
Is Whole Foods still operational?
Yes. Whole Foods Market operates 549 stores across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as of 2026. The chain maintains headquarters in Austin, Texas, and runs as an Amazon subsidiary.
Who owns Whole Foods?
Amazon.com, Inc. owns 100% of Whole Foods Market. Amazon acquired the company on August 28, 2017, for $13.7 billion. No public shares of Whole Foods trade separately from Amazon.
What is the net worth of Whole Foods?
Whole Foods does not report independent financials as a wholly-owned Amazon subsidiary. Amazon paid $13.7 billion in 2017. Annual sales reached $22.4 billion in early 2026 per Amazon disclosures.
Whole Foods market cap in 2026
Whole Foods has no independent market capitalization because it is privately held by Amazon. Parent company Amazon recorded a market cap of $2.84 trillion in May 2026, ranking among the world’s most valuable firms.
When did Whole Foods come out?
Whole Foods Market opened its first store on September 20, 1980, in Austin, Texas. Co-founders John Mackey, Renee Lawson Hardy, Craig Weller, and Mark Skiles merged two natural food stores to launch it.
Is Whole Foods an American company?
Yes. Whole Foods was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1980 and still maintains its headquarters there. It operates as a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
With many years of professional experience within transnational corporations in different industries, Richard Jaimes has had the opportunity to lead people and organizations, investigate future topics, create strategies and innovations, consult senior management and translate insights into business advantages. Richard is also a long time senior consultant with Quantumrun Foresight.
