Anyone else get the Whole Foods apology?

[abbeyco]

I got a response this afternoon after sending in a scathing letter yesterday. Here's the message:

To our customers,

As you are aware, John Mackey wrote an Op/Ed piece that was published in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week on health care reform, one of the biggest and most emotional issues facing our country. John’s intent was to express his personal opinions — not those of Whole Food Market team members or our company as a whole. Still, it’s very clear that John’s piece offended some of our customers, other members of the communities we serve and some of our team members as well.

We offer you our sincere apology.

We’d like to clarify a few things that have been misinterpreted:

John’s Op/Ed piece was written in favor of health care reform.
In response to President Obama’s invitation to all Americans to put forward constructive ideas for reforming our health care system, John was asked to write an Op/Ed piece and he gave his personal opinion. John titled the piece “Health Care Reform,” but an editor at the Journal rewrote the headline to call it “Whole Foods Alternative to Obamacare,” which led to antagonistic feelings by many. That was not John’s intention – in fact, John does not mention the President at all in his piece. John has posted the unedited piece to his blog where people can read it as it was intended.

Whole Foods Market has no official position on the issue.
That said, we have attempted to be part of the solution in health care reform for many years by providing innovative health care options to our team members. We believe that our high deductible medical insurance plan coupled with a company-funded HSA is an excellent way to empower team members to make their own health care choices.

John wanted to share our experience with others through his Op/Ed piece.
He believes that the specific ideas he put forward would improve access and cost of health care for more people. Because our plan has held down overall costs (relative to other plans), Whole Foods Market has been able to pay 100 percent of the premiums for our full-time team members — about 89% of our workforce. (Part-timers are eligible for the insurance plan too and pay the premium themselves.) Our team members vote on our plan every three years to make sure they continue to have a voice in our benefits.

Whole Foods Market has a 30-year track record of caring about our customers, team members and communities. From local loan programs to salary caps, from donations to non-profits to funding the Whole Planet Foundation, our innovative programs are created and designed by team members who care about their fellow citizens.

We all know there are many opinions on the health care debate, including inside our own company. As we, as a nation, continue to sort through this together, we are hopeful that both sides can do so in a civil manner that will lead to positive change for all concerned, and we thank you for sharing your opinions with us.

Kind regards,

Customer Communications Team
Whole Foods Market World Headquarters
550 Bowie Street
Austin, Texas 78703


Not sure what I think yet....still not gonna shop there for the remainder of this year. It's Sunflower Market for me!

[sandnsea]

1. HSA's suck

and everything about Mackey's "health care reform" was crap. Fuck him. Why would it take long to conclude that?

[Ian David]

2. Are they saying that Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal has no journalistic integrity?

This is true.

But Whole Foods can still suck it.

[Timshel]

3. yup, and this was my response

While I appreciate the response, unfortunately it does nothing to defray my concerns; in fact, it introduces more questions - the main one being: If John Mackey does not represent Whole Foods, then who does, and why is he still CEO?

The fact of the matter is that two people I am very close with have been, or are currently, affected by this debate: one died after he didn't go for checkups often enough when his cancer went into remission because he had no health insurance, and didn't want to leave his family with large medical bills (my FATHER - a southern baptist minister - this is not just a right/left issue), and the other pays $300 a month for health care because he is unemployed due to outsourcing (my PARTNER) and he is lucky, only because he was able to save enough to afford his current health insurance.

I will be shopping at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market, as well as Sun Harvest. I spent the money I spent at Whole Foods because I believed that their LEADERS felt as I do about public welfare, and now it appears that I must shop elsewhere because, if John Mackey has anything to do with it, I have to save what money I can in case true health care reform doesn't pass. What money I have to spend on grocery, etc will now go elsewhere, unless, of course the unbelievable happens, and John Mackey leaves Whole Foods.

PS: Had a cake to buy for an anniversary celebration today - made my own cake instead of going to the 6th street Whole Foods. I may not own much, but my soul is not for sale.

[Cha]

10. That's a great

first paragraph!

[Fridays Child]

4. High deductible coverage + HSA = fake insurance

Fuck Whole Foods, their fake insurance, and their fake organic food. Buy local, from farmers and growers you can look in the eye when they tell you their beef is grass fed, their chickens are free range, and their produce is organic. Buy from someone who's willing to show you their farm or ranch. I'm not saying you won't need medical insurance but I can just about guarantee that you and your family will be healthier.

[Fridays Child]

5. I'm curious about what your original letter said.

I'm reading the Mackey piece (of shit), right now, and there is so much wrong with it that I wouldn't even know where to begin criticizing it.

[abbeyco]

6. Basically, I let them know that with Mackey's

blather in the paper, it clearly showed that he had no idea of the demographics of his shoppers: largely progressive and willing to spend a bit more to get a more organic, healthier choice product.

I then laid out how much I spend a week there and how I will be taking my business to Sunflower Market, Vitamin Cottage and even back to King Soopers (Kroger) and will never, ever bother to bring my progressive ass back into one of their stores.

I sincerely hope they got an earful - what an assclown Mackey is.

[graywarrior]

7. I got an email from my outlaw biker brother today who told me he's boycotting WF's...lol.

Apparently he lives right near one and shops there frequently. He shocked the hell out of me last November when he called and told me he voted for Obama.

[lame54]

8. they are trying to climb out the WHOLE they dug

[Fridays Child]

9. Heh...

Good one!

[Garbo 2004]

11. Currently active thread on this subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...