Latest news with #JasonBuechel
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
The Friday Checkout: Amazon taps Whole Foods leadership for grocery growth
When Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market back in 2017, it was a safe assumption that the specialty grocer's image would morph to reflect Amazon's business. And for a time, that was the direction things were going: Whole Foods' pricing has gotten more competitive, Amazon Prime serves as a loyalty program of sorts, and the grocer now touts more high-tech payment options, including palm-scanning payment. There was even a stint with Just Walk Out frictionless checkout. Now, however, the tables are turning - Amazon seemingly wants to be more like Whole Foods. Amazon has spent years finding its footing in an attempt to get its own grocery empire off the ground - particularly with its traditional grocery chain Amazon Fresh - but nothing has wowed the industry or shoppers. And while Amazon Fresh hasn't indicated that it plans to become a specialty grocer, it is at long last leaning into Whole Foods' leadership to chart a better course. Though Amazon established a single grocery entity back in 2022, Whole Foods and Amazon's supermarket operations still ran fairly separately. This separation was fine for Whole Foods' growth, but Amazon continued to play whack-a-mole with store openings and closures for Amazon Fresh. This week, Amazon unveiled a restructured leadership team for its Worldwide Grocery division that includes top executives from Whole Foods Market. This internal shift comes less than six months after Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel stepped in to helm both Whole Foods and Amazon's grocery business as vice president for worldwide grocery stores. It seems Amazon is finally recognizing that Whole Foods is an asset not just as a specialty banner, but also as a key guide to Amazon's grocery ambitions. With Amazon Fresh treading water for so long, it's odd Amazon didn't call in Whole Foods for an assist years ago. In case you missed it Thousands of grocery workers across three states threaten to strike This week, 45,000 unionized grocery workers in Southern California authorized an Unfair Labor Practice strike against Kroger and Albertsons, according to a United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 announcement. Safeway workers in Colorado and employees at Kroger and Albertsons' banners in Washington state have already voted in favor of authorizing a strike. The strike threats come as three local unions under the UFCW are separately negotiating contracts with the grocers. "A summer strike would disrupt the busiest season for two of America's largest grocery chains," UFCW 770 said. Costco pumps up its higher-cost membership The club retailer is looking to make its Executive Membership, which costs twice as much as its other two membership options, more attractive. Costco's Executive members in the U.S. and Canada will get a $10 monthly credit towards a same-day delivery order fulfilled by Instacart, starting June 30, according to a Wednesday announcement. Costco confirmed to USA Today this week that its clubs will open an hour early for its Executive members, starting June 30. While accounting for less than half of Costco's members, Executive members make up 73% of the retailer's sales, according to Costco data cited by CNBC, which noted that Costco raised the price of its Executive and Gold Star memberships last year. T&T Supermarkets zips ahead with U.S. expansion After debuting stateside last winter in Bellevue, Washington, Canada's largest Asian grocery retailer is charging forward with its store growth plans in the U.S., announcing on Thursday that it plans to open a sixth store in the country. Coming to Chino Hills, California, the 61,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The announcement comes just a few months after T&T unveiled plans for its first location in Southern California, which is expected to debut in Irvine next year. The retailer also has stores planned for San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Lynwood, Washington. Impulse find Latest spin-off from the Chantilly Cake craze Chantilly Cake - vanilla cake with berry jam, fresh berries and whipped Chantilly cream - is all the rage, and Publix is the latest grocer to hop on the bandwagon. The Florida-based grocer has released a limited-edition Chantilly Cake ice cream "with white cake ice cream, berry swirls, and bits of almond-flavored cake," Food & Wine reported this week. The frozen treat is based on the Chantilly Cake Publix carries in its bakery department, Lindsey Willis, media relations manager at Publix, told the publication. This isn't the first time a grocer has drawn inspiration from the fan-favorite cake. This spring, Whole Foods unveiled a Berry Chantilly Latte, which is available until July 1, Food & Wine reported. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
This Amazon division may be planning major leadership changes
Amazon 's grocery division, which is now led by Jason Buechel , is reportedly planning major leadership changes , including a reorganisation of Whole Foods. This marks the first significant restructuring under Buechel, who recently began overseeing Amazon's entire grocery business . According to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider (BI), Buechel has assembled a new leadership team. This team combines experienced executives from both Whole Foods and Amazon. Buechel, who became Whole Foods' CEO in 2022 and was promoted to head Amazon's full grocery operations in January, now aims for a deeper integration of Whole Foods with the e-commerce giant's platform. The memo suggests that these changes are necessary to accelerate the growth of Amazon's grocery business. This move comes nearly eight years after Amazon acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. What Amazon grocery chief Jason Buechel said in the memo 'Too frequently, we are duplicating efforts and missing easy opportunities for efficiency. We have a big opportunity to work smarter across teams and simplify how we approach shared needs,' Buechel wrote in the memo seen by BI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The new leadership structure is organised into seven core business areas, covering technology, operations, and marketing. As per the memo, the appointments are: The new leadership team is split into 7 main business areas, including technology, operations, and marketing. Here's the full list, according to the memo: "Anand Varadarajan, VP of product and technology, will lead Worldwide Grocery Technology and Supply Chain Bill Jordan, Whole Foods EVP of Operations, will lead Worldwide Grocery Store Operations Christina Minardi, Whole Foods' EVP of Growth and Development, will lead Worldwide Grocery Real Estate Growth and Development Ganesh Rao, VP of Amazon Fresh International, will lead Amazon Fresh International and Grocery Partnerships Karen Christensen, Whole Foods' SVP of merchandising, will lead North America Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Whole Foods' chief merchandising and marketing officer, will lead Worldwide Grocery Marketing & Private Brands and Whole Foods Market Business Vishy Subramanian, VP of Amazon Grocery Logistics, will lead Amazon Grocery Logistics Astu Patel, senior manager of product and engineering, will be the Business Operations Manager Kim Wells, senior director of growth and innovation, will lead strategic retail initiatives Amy O'Hay, VP of PXT Worldwide Grocery Stores, will lead HR Heather Stern, Whole Foods SVP of legal affairs, will lead legal Keith Manbeck, VP of finance, will lead finance Kristen Kish, director of communications, will lead PR" Android 16 IS HERE! Live Notifications, Tablet Desktop Mode & MORE! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now About the Author TOI Tech Desk The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity. Read More End of Article by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links Recommended For You One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... 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Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iconic U.S. grocery chain debuts first UK store after a decade
Founded in 1980, Whole Foods Market began as a small grocery store in Austin, Texas, with a 19-person staff. Now, it has over 500 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Amazon acquired Whole Foods nearly eight years ago, and since then, the company has helped boost the grocery store chain's growth, increasing sales by 40% since 2017 and upping its store count from around 460 stores to 543 worldwide. 💰💸 💰💸 Although Amazon doesn't separate the grocery store chain's earnings, the company continues to grow at an astonishing to Amazon's earnings report for the full year of 2024, net sales grew 11% year over year, with its North American segment up 10% and 9% internationally. Companies tend to expand internationally to grow brand awareness and reach other markets with greater potential to boost growth and increase revenues, which is why Amazon has been expanding internationally since 1998. Whole Foods expanded internationally in 2002, opening its first Canadian location. Two years later, it expanded its market to the UK until halting new projects in () international expansion strategy has worked for nearly thirty years. So, after gaining ownership of Whole Foods, the company decided to try this tactic again with the grocery store chain, but this time under its management. Whole Foods announced it expanded its store footprint internationally by opening its first location in the United Kingdom on Mar. 25, marking over 10 years since its last store opening in the country. This new store is located in London's King Road district, right in the city's heart, making it a prime location for this highly-awaited return. Plans to open a new Whole Foods location in the UK were first unveiled in February, amounting to six stores total stores in the country. 'Continuing our expansion outside of the U.S. enables us to extend our reach to more customers while advancing our higher purpose to nourish people and the planet,' said Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel. More Retail News: Tesla unveils an unusual innovation to win back customers Popular skincare brand takes advantage of egg crisis Major healthcare company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy This newest UK location contains all the same features as the ones in the U.S., including a seafood and meat counter, fresh produce section, specialty departments, wellness and beauty isle, bakery, wine and beer area, prepared foods, and a full-service coffee bar. It also has a curated grocery section with local products from over 80 brands, differentiating these UK locations from the rest. 'We know customers in the U.K. are seeking high-quality natural and organic products. As we plan for the future, we are actively looking at this market and opportunities to bring Whole Foods Market to more customers there,' said Whole Foods Market & Amazon Executive Vice President Growth & Development Christina in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Iconic U.S. grocery chain debuts first UK store after a decade
Founded in 1980, Whole Foods Market began as a small grocery store in Austin, Texas, with a 19-person staff. Now, it has over 500 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Amazon acquired Whole Foods nearly eight years ago, and since then, the company has helped boost the grocery store chain's growth, increasing sales by 40% since 2017 and upping its store count from around 460 stores to 543 worldwide. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter Although Amazon doesn't separate the grocery store chain's earnings, the company continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Related: Amazon grocery store chain removes perk customers love According to Amazon's earnings report for the full year of 2024, net sales grew 11% year over year, with its North American segment up 10% and 9% internationally. Companies tend to expand internationally to grow brand awareness and reach other markets with greater potential to boost growth and increase revenues, which is why Amazon has been expanding internationally since 1998. Whole Foods expanded internationally in 2002, opening its first Canadian location. Two years later, it expanded its market to the UK until halting new projects in 2014. Related: Forget McDonald's, Walmart adds a new restaurant partner Amazon's (AMZN) international expansion strategy has worked for nearly thirty years. So, after gaining ownership of Whole Foods, the company decided to try this tactic again with the grocery store chain, but this time under its management. Whole Foods announced it expanded its store footprint internationally by opening its first location in the United Kingdom on Mar. 25, marking over 10 years since its last store opening in the country. This new store is located in London's King Road district, right in the city's heart, making it a prime location for this highly-awaited return. Plans to open a new Whole Foods location in the UK were first unveiled in February, amounting to six stores total stores in the country. "Continuing our expansion outside of the U.S. enables us to extend our reach to more customers while advancing our higher purpose to nourish people and the planet," said Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel. More Retail News: Tesla unveils an unusual innovation to win back customersPopular skincare brand takes advantage of egg crisisMajor healthcare company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy This newest UK location contains all the same features as the ones in the U.S., including a seafood and meat counter, fresh produce section, specialty departments, wellness and beauty isle, bakery, wine and beer area, prepared foods, and a full-service coffee bar. It also has a curated grocery section with local products from over 80 brands, differentiating these UK locations from the rest. "We know customers in the U.K. are seeking high-quality natural and organic products. As we plan for the future, we are actively looking at this market and opportunities to bring Whole Foods Market to more customers there," said Whole Foods Market & Amazon Executive Vice President Growth & Development Christina Minardi. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Supermarket CEO issues stark warning about availability of popular products: 'We will not be able to source certain things'
The CEO of one of America's largest grocery chains has a stark warning for customers about the impact of climate change and extreme weather on the ability to buy some of your favorite foods. "We will hit certain points where we're not able to source certain things," said Jason Buechel, the CEO of Whole Foods and the VP of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores, in an interview at the Food Tank Food Summit held at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Citing egg and dairy shortages over the holidays as an example, Buechel warned: "We're going to see that with more products within our grocery stores." Buechel said it's critical that customers understand what's happening to food supply chains as warming temperatures cause extreme weather events to become more intense and frequent. According to Bayer's 2024 Farmer Voice Survey, more than 60% reported "significant revenue loss" due to adverse weather over the past several years. "We have to bring some of these things to broader awareness so customers know these things are happening, which can tie back to climate change," he said. While access to products or increased prices are challenging for consumers, it impacts farmers even more. That hits close to home for Buechel, whose grandparents were dairy farmers. "Being a farmer isn't easy alone, but one weather event could affect the entire crop for their business for that year," he said. "Because of the volatility with climate events," he said some farmers are wondering, "Is it worth it?" When grocery stores do have a challenge sourcing products like berries, impacted by destructive flooding in Brazil last year, they are usually able to find that product from another country, "so customers don't feel the pain as much as farmers within our supply chain." But Buechel said that's not always going to be the case. What's the most common reason you end up throwing away food? Bought more than I could eat Went bad sooner than I expected Forgot it was in the fridge Didn't want leftovers Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While customers may not see it in the stores, there's a lot happening behind the scenes at Whole Foods to address one of the biggest sources of emissions: food waste. "This for me is a personal passion project," Buechel said. "At the end of the day, it's actually rotting food in our landfills that's a bigger contributor of methane gas than cows. For us, [the question is,] 'How do we tackle that issue on all fronts?'" That includes: ◉ Partnering with their suppliers to ensure they aren't over-producing or over-ordering to line up supply and demand ◉ Making surplus products available to the food insecure through food donations in every metro area, and where necessary, turning extra food into animal feed◉ Offer customers discounts on food that may otherwise be heading to the landfill through partnerships with apps like Too Good To Go, a program Buechel says has diverted over 1 million pounds of food over the past year while offering a 50% discount on bakery and other items In the United States, food waste is estimated at 30-40% of the food supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Buechel also spoke about Whole Foods' mission to help people "eat healthier, have more delicious food, and do things better for the soil and the farmers." Its "Sourced for Good" program highlights products that are good for the environment, good for workers growing those products, and good for the community. Take bananas, for example, many of which are sourced from Earth University, an organization that seeks to improve the working conditions of banana farmers while also taking care of the environment. "Sharing those stories helps influence the decision around what customers are going to buy," he said. "As retailers … as storytellers, we have to figure out how to find the best ways to connect with this generation and harness the influence that they're going to have in creating the changes that we need in the industry," he said. "What I get excited about is that [the next generation] truly are making buying decisions in line with their values." Just as important as the products Whole Foods sells in stores, Buechel said, "It's actually the products and items that we don't sell, is what differentiates us," referring to over 500-plus banned ingredients the company doesn't offer because they don't meet standards. Buechel hopes Whole Foods can become a model for the industry. "Our goal is having a ripple effect. We want other folks to copy us," he said. "We constantly challenge our competitors: 'Join in.' We want to help protect our food systems and nourish people and the planet." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
