Is John Mackey Clueless About Whole Foods' Customer Base?

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Whole Foods CEO John Mackey is learning a valuable lesson for all of us. As it turns out, the kind of people who are willing to spend extra money for organic, environmentally-friendly, locally sourced food are not generally the kind of people who respond well to op-ed pieces that start off by quoting Margaret Thatcher on the evils of socialism. Who would have thought?

Seriously, what was Mackey thinking? Does he not know people who shop at Whole Foods? The moment I saw his health care op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, I knew there would be trouble. And sure enough, the piece angered so many customers that the Whole Foods website now has an entire “Boycott Whole Foods” section in its forums

Whole Foods apologized and tried to clarify that the op-ed reflected only the CEO’s opinions and not the official stance of the company, but it doesn’t seem to have helped. “I will never shop there again,” seems to be a common sentiment.

I’m not sure what Mackey gets out of the deal. Will the op-ed really have a significant impact on the health care debate? Any at all, much less enough to outweigh the damage done to the company’s reputation among a huge segment of shoppers? (Not all, of course — in fact, some people liked the op-ed so much they promised to start shopping at Whole Foods.)

But Mackey has a history of not thinking through his actions. A couple of years ago, he was caught making anonymous online attacks against rival Wild Oats – possibly serving to lower its stock prices before Whole Foods moved to buy the company. Oops.

Tags: Whole Foods, Vertical Industries, Benefits, Healthcare, Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Katherine Glover

Katherine Glover is a Minneapolis-based print, radio and online journalist. She's written for Salon.com, Sierra Magazine and many others, and she does a weekly blog on immigration issues for MinnPost.

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1

jmonson

08/18/09 | Report as spam

RE: Is John Mackey Clueless About Whole Foods' Customer Base?

Of course he isn't clueless. He actually has conviction, and knows that Obama and the Democrat's plan will bankrupt all of us.

Come on, BNET. Does this really need to be explained to you? Mackey has enough wealth that he could pack up and retire to some remote destination where he wouldn't have to put up with all of this garbage. He realizes that he has nothing to lose, quite frankly, because this massive giant of an entitlement program they call 'health care reform' will effectively kill our economy. Who's going to buy expensive groceries when we're in a depression?

John Mackey could shrug. If I were him, it would be damn tempting.

Read Atlas Shrugged, BNET writers. You'll be absolutely shocked at how similar our current situation is to Rand's classic.
2

AShrugged

08/18/09 | Report as spam

RE: Is John Mackey Clueless About Whole Foods' Customer Base?

jmonson, you nailed it. Atlas Shrugged is alive and unfortunately happening in the US right now.

I say the liberal organic food eaters grow their own...but then again they are too busy waiting for the Federal bailout.
3

pixelm

08/19/09 | Report as spam

RE: Is John Mackey Clueless About Whole Foods' Customer Base?

@jmonson - I am certainly not suggesting that Mackey not have his own thoughts and opinions, but to make such a public stand on an issue that strikes passion on both sides certainly leaves both he and Whole Foods exposed to those who oppose his (and clearly your) views.

More importantly, as the leader of an organization - he must also answer to his Board of Directors and work towards the general health of his operation. That said, while you may share his feelings on the issue of Health Care - His public display of opinion is certainly not helping the business he is running...
4

Russell T

08/21/09 | Report as spam

RE: Is John Mackey Clueless About Whole Foods' Customer Base?

PR disaster. The conservative base will not take up the slack at his stores. They might show up as an anti-boycott movement but that won't last. The Left will boycott but eventually return, but maybe in smaller numbers.

In the long run however, it will damage the store's image in the eyes of the core customers.