# Whole Foods Market: John Mackey (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-11-19
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018

## Summary

John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, recounts the company's origins from a vegetarian co-op to a national organic food revolution. He details the early struggles of his first store, Safer Way, including a devastating flood that nearly bankrupted the business and the strategic decision to merge with competitors Craig Weller and Mark Styles to launch the first Whole Foods Market. Mackey explains his distrust of venture capitalists, leading to an early IPO in 1992, which provided stock currency for acquiring peers like Fresh Fields and Bread & Circus to scale the company.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=0) Introduction: John Mackey and the Organic Revolution
- [3:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=187) From Hippie Grocer to Safer Way
- [15:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=942) The First Whole Foods Market and the Flood
- [24:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=1474) Scaling, Conflict, and Venture Capital Rejection
- [29:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=1745) Going Public and Acquiring Competitors
- [33:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=1989) Animal Welfare, Brand Criticism, and Legacy
- [39:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-19-whole-foods-market-john-mackey-2018#t=2386) Postscript: Steve Humble and Creative Home Engineering

## 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)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Whole Foods Market (company)
- Safer Way (product)
- Clarksville Natural Grocery (company)
- Fresh Fields (company)
- Bread and Circus (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Creative Home Engineering (company)
- U.S. Bank (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)
- [#160 - Whole Foods 101 with Kristin Sherman, Kelly Landrieu, and George Daines](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-09-10-160-whole-foods-101-with-kristin-sherman-kelly-landrieu-and-george-daines) (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)
- [Investor Spotlight: Elly Truesdell, New Fare Partners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-11-investor-spotlight-elly-truesdell-new-fare-partners) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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