# Whole Foods Market: John Mackey

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-05-15
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey

## Summary

John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods Market, recounts starting with $45,000 to open Safer Way, merging with Clarksville Natural Grocery to launch the first Whole Foods, and surviving a devastating flood that destroyed the store. He explains his decision to go public in 1992 to avoid losing control to venture capitalists, which provided the stock currency to acquire competitors like Bread and Circus and Fresh Fields. Mackey also discusses the company's evolution from a hippie co-op to a mainstream grocer, the impact of animal rights activism on their sourcing policies, and the eventual sale to Amazon.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=0) Introduction: John Mackey and the Organic Revolution
- [3:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=202) From Vegetarian Co-op to Opening Safer Way
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=748) Merging with Clarksville Natural Grocery to Launch Whole Foods
- [19:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=1165) Surviving the 1981 Austin Flood
- [27:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=1651) Rejecting Venture Capital and Going Public in 1992
- [31:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=1868) Acquisitions and Scaling the Business
- [36:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=2193) Animal Rights Activism and Changing Sourcing Policies
- [41:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-15-whole-foods-market-john-mackey#t=2474) Postscript: Kyle Ewing and TerraSlate Waterproof Paper

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Whole Foods Market (company)
- Safer Way (company)
- Clarksville Natural Grocery (company)
- Bread and Circus (company)
- Fresh Fields (company)
- TerraSlate (company)
- U.S. Navy (company)
- Google (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#252 - The Rise of Laurel's Coffee: Whole Foods, Wegmans & 1,800 Target Stores in Two Years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-09-252-the-rise-of-laurels-coffee-whole-foods-wegmans-1-800-target-stores-in-two-ye) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [How Whole Foods Invests in Emerging Brands with Ellen Gorra](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-09-12-how-whole-foods-invests-in-emerging-brands-with-ellen-gorra) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Morgan Murdock of Unbothered Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-02-founder-feature-morgan-murdock-of-unbothered-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Erica Groussman of Trubar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-05-founder-feature-erica-groussman-of-trubar) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Grace Mittl of Absurd Snacks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-13-founder-feature-grace-mittl-of-absurd-snacks) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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