The Wall Street Journal has a story about Whole Foods co-CEO John Mackey, described as a resolute "conscious capitalist" and frequent provocateur on a wide range of issues,, though he says he is trying to become circumspect because of the negative impact on his company when he opines about global warming, unions and national health care policy.
"“I tend to be a very candid person,” he says, adding, “I obviously want to be honest and not deceive people, but at the same time I don’t want to hurt Whole Foods Market,” he says. “I’m happy to express my views to people in private but because I’m the co-founder of the company…people make a very close identification between Whole Foods and me. It might not be fair, but it’s just reality.”
Mackey also says that the price of healthy foods has to come down, which is one reason why Whole Foods is launching a new "365" format later this year: "Instead of having 30 kinds of salsa you’ll find just a few and they’ll be low priced," he says.
You can read the entire piece here.
"“I tend to be a very candid person,” he says, adding, “I obviously want to be honest and not deceive people, but at the same time I don’t want to hurt Whole Foods Market,” he says. “I’m happy to express my views to people in private but because I’m the co-founder of the company…people make a very close identification between Whole Foods and me. It might not be fair, but it’s just reality.”
Mackey also says that the price of healthy foods has to come down, which is one reason why Whole Foods is launching a new "365" format later this year: "Instead of having 30 kinds of salsa you’ll find just a few and they’ll be low priced," he says.
You can read the entire piece here.
- KC's View:
-
You can make up your own mind when you read the story, but I confess that I don't find Mackey to be particularly persuasive about Whole Foods' ability to reinvent itself, nor about the potential of the 365 format. There just seems to be an air of desperation about Whole Foods' efforts ... though I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong when the 365 stores start opening and if they resonate with consumers.
