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1. Does the company’s strategy reflect the company’s mission? Explain. Whole Food’s mission is based on three categories, the food, the people and the planet. They believe in providing natural whole foods through highly trained and passionate employees with the company taking active responsibility for the planet. It is apparent, when examining the company, that their business practices reflect their mission. Using their Product Quality Standards documents as a guideline, it is clear Whole Foods carefully considers which products they do or do not sell. Their buyers often visit the manufacturing plants of suppliers to ensure high standards. In addition to their commitment of only carrying foods that are “free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats” (Whole Foods Market, 2012), they also maintain a list of unacceptable ingredients which include standards like “artificial colors, artificial flavors, hydrogenated fats and high fructose corn syrup” (Whole Foods Market, 2012) and they do not carry products that contain those ingredients.
Within the store, Whole Foods takes a team based approached to individual store management and success. Team members are organized around team leaders, which are responsible and empowered to make decisions such as merchandising and operations. Team members are also provided with other avenues for feedback such as an annual survey on employee benefit packages and survey on team leaders. Employees are also incentivized through stock options for their own individual performance as well as the store’s performance.
In addition to the products they carry and the people that work for them, Whole Foods undertakes many projects in areas such as sustainable farming, animal welfare, and health education. Through individual store initiatives such as blood drives and food donations to local food banks and...

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