Strategic Managment

Whole Foods Market

                            Strategic Management

Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………….…….p. 3
Trends in the Organic Foods and the Impact on Whole Foods…………………........p. 3
Application of Porter’s 5 Forces Model………..…………………………….............p. 4
Most Significant Environmental Threat and Whole Foods Combat ………………...p. 6
SWOT Analysis….…………………………………………..………………........…p. 7
Sustaining Competitive Advantage...…………………………………...….………..p. 8
Summary….………………………………………………………….………..…….p. 8
References.…………………………………………………………..……………....p. 10
Whole Foods Market
Introduction
      John Mackey cofounder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) founded Whole Foods in 1980 with the purpose of providing organic foods to the grocery shopping public. This started a movement over the next 30 years that has brought organic foods to the common shoppers in many markets around the U.S. that had only been previously serviced by smaller health food stores or by their local grocery chain. The success of Whole Foods moving forward will be how they can succeed and maintain their profitability when unemployment remains high and Americans have less disposable income. This essay will look at several factors of Whole Foods, including latest trends, the competitive environment in the grocery industry, environmental threats, SWOT analysis of the business operations and strengths that must be leveraged to maintain a competitive advantage.

Trends in the Organic Foods and the Impact on Whole Foods
As the public has become increasingly aware of the potential negative impact of additives, preservatives, and pesticides in their food, organic food grown in a natural way without steroids, pesticides and minimum preservatives offers consumers who are concerned about their food a different choice.
Prior to 1990, there was no government standardization or definition as to what could or could not be classified as natural food. The 1990 passage of the Organic...