Decentralization vs. centralization and culture shifts

What really happened behind Amazon's $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods? In this episode on the Habits and Hustle podcast, John Mackey, founder and former CEO of Whole Foods, reveals why he walked away from the company he built over 44 years.

We dive into how Whole Foods went from a single vegetarian store to a 540-store empire that revolutionized American eating habits. We also discuss why only 0.5% of Americans are vegan despite the plant-based movement, why protein obsession is misguided, and how Erewhon is disrupting the company he created.

John Mackey founded Whole Foods Market in 1980 and served as CEO until 2022, growing it from a single store in Austin to a Fortune 250 company. He's the author of "Conscious Capitalism" and "The Whole Story," and now leads Love.Life, a revolutionary wellness center combining health, fitness, and medical care under one roof.

What We Discuss: 

03:27 - Why Erewhon has become "the new Whole Foods" and John's strategy to compete

07:46 - How John built Whole Foods with zero business education

14:50 - From pickles on hamburgers to vegetarian: John's food awakening at age 22

21:21 - The 100-year flood that almost destroyed Whole Foods after 9 months

26:50 - The hostile takeover attempt

29:17 - Meeting Jeff Bezos: The six-week whirlwind romance with Amazon

51:56 - Why John only took $1 salary for his last 16 years (and never got paid)

59:26 - Conscious Capitalism: The four pillars of building a purpose-driven business

01:09:00 - Love.Life: The one-stop wellness center that's "Whole Foods for health"

01:21:14 - Why only 0.5% of Americans are vegan and vegan restaurants are failing

01:24:42 - The protein myth: Why Americans eat too much protein and not enough fiber

…and more!

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Find more from Jen: 

Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/

Instagram: @therealjencohen  

Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books

Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement

Find more from John Mackey: 

Instagram:@iamjohnmackey

Website:  https://johnpmackey.com/