Whole Foods Market Inc. is an American supermarket chain that specializes in selling natural food products free form artificial preservatives. They strive to make fresh and organic food accessible to all, owning to their trademark, “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store”.
Founded by John Mackey and Renee Lawson in 1978, the grocery chain started as a small vegetarian natural food store named SaferWay. In 1980, SaferWay merged with Clarksville Natural Grocery which then became Whole Foods Market.
There are now over 400 stores in the US, Canada, and the UK with over 90,000 employees. The grocery chain has also won numerous awards, including Fortune magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Work”.
The company provides its employees benefits such as a competitive starting wage, Health Savings Account, at least 20 percent store discount, and paid vacations, and insurance. Employees are encouraged to be innovative, to excel in what they do, and to collaborate with each other and build a working environment where everyone efficiently works together.
How old do you have to be to work at Whole Foods?
An entry-level job at Whole Foods requires an applicant to be at least 16 years old. The age requirement may vary for other positions such as managerial jobs.
Whole Foods Careers
The company focuses on hiring people based on their qualifications and their inclination with the company’s philosophy. Job opportunities range from entry-level to managerial positions.
Cashier: A Cashier provides front end customer service. Key duties include assisting the customers during checkout, handling all cash register transactions, and bagging groceries. Other tasks involve following standard procedures for selling of alcoholic beverages, observing proper health and sanitation policies, and answering telephone calls effectively and politely.
Market Team Member/Stocker: A member of this team is responsible for maintaining orderliness and cleanliness of the store displays and grocery floor, and receiving, preparing and selling of products. Other tasks include providing satisfactory customer service and ensuring that the questions and concerns of the customers are addressed efficiently and effectively.
Market Team Closer: A member of this team is tasked with ensuring a fresh and pleasing display by maintaining the cleanliness of shelves and cases, checking codes, rotating and arranging products, and removing products that are beyond the expiration date. Other tasks include checking accurate signage and pricing, organizing the back room, and maintaining a clean and safe environment for shopping.
Overnight Team Member: A member of this team will work shifts between 10:00PM-7:00AM and will assist in receiving, sorting and checking all overnight deliveries. Primary duties include accurately sorting and scanning waste, ensuring products meet WFM quality standards, complying with safety and sanitation policies, and stocking and cleaning shelves, bulk bins, and freezers.
Store Floater: A Store Floater is responsible for providing excellent customer service and assistance. Primary tasks include preparing, packaging, weighing products for sale, maintaining proper signages and pricing, monitoring product quality, completing the necessary product spoilage and transfer records, and following policies on health and sanitation.
Prepared Foods Team: A member of this team is primarily responsible for processing and handling all product deliveries. Tasks include efficiently processing deliveries, complying with the proper receiving procedures, maintaining the back stock area, organizing designated loads, ensuring all refrigerated products are properly stored, and monitor the receiving area.
Sanitation Team Member: A member of this team is responsible for keeping the warehouse clean, tracking and replenishing inventory of cleaning supplies, proper disposal of wastes and recyclables, and cleaning the offices, conference rooms, and comfort rooms. Other tasks include handling all battery-operated equipment, reporting all safety and fire hazards, and complying with the standard procedures for safety and sanitation.
Service Team Member: A member of this team prepares food items according to the production sheets, monitors and replenishes food items promptly, monitors freshness and quality of product, and ensures that all prepared products are properly labelled, dated and covered. Other tasks include maintaining cleanliness and orderliness of the work station, completing records on product spoilage and transfers, and complying with standard procedures on safety and sanitation.
Bakery Production Team Member: A member of this team is responsible for various tasks related to the production and selling of bakery items. Primary tasks include preparing and producing doughs, mixes, cookies, cakes, pastries, cupcakes, and other bakery products. Other tasks involve packaging and pricing of products, provide excellent customer service, and comply with standard procedures for health and sanitation.
Receptionist: A Receptionist provides excellent customer service by greeting customers, answering calls politely, addressing concerns properly, directing calls to the appropriate personnel, managing the mail and supply room, and sorting and distributing mail and other deliveries to the appropriate office. Other tasks include information dissemination, ordering and distribution of office supplies, and other administrative functions.
Whole Foods Application
To apply at Whole Foods, you must file an application form online through the company’s website, on the Career’s page. You must first be logged in and then you may search for available positions and then submit your application.
An online application is available through the company’s website. You must first create an account, select a country where you wish to work in, and find and apply for an available position.
When applying online, you must provide all your necessary information. After submitting your application you can constantly check your account for updates on the current status of your application.
In preparing your resume, make sure to provide only your relevant information. You must keep in mind that the company looks for employees who shares the same philosophy as them.
For the interview, you must prepare for questions related to the company’s strong philosophy on sustainable food and environmental and animal welfare. Other questions are on your availability, choice of food, and why you chose the company.
Things to Know About Whole Foods
Whole Foods value health and wellness among others. Not only do they promote these in their products but also among their employees. Also, the company strives to instill accountability and maintains a strong collective energy that motivates its workers.
In 2016, the company was awarded “Best of Best” award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Also, in the same year all of their eggs have been verified as GMO. The following year, they received the Cage-Free award from CIFW.
The company is known for their strong on educating their customers about what natural and organic food is. They have strict policies on maintaining quality of their products which includes sustainable seafood, and cruelty-free quality meat.
Whole Foods has made significant contributions to society by eliminating disposable plastic bags, promoting animal welfare, and participating in sustainable fishing practices. The company also donates at least five percent of their annual net earnings to charities every year.
Application Links
Company: www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Careers: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers
Application: N/A