![Whole Foods Market](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/themes/iwt-2020/dist/images/wfm-logo-print_47f2a749.png)
Newsroom
Jan. 22, 2021
Early Years
![First Whole Foods Market](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/first_store-1024x512.jpg)
First Whole Foods Market
![Craig Weller, Renee Lawson Hardy, John Mackey](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/craig_renee_john-710x1024.jpg)
Craig Weller, Renee Lawson Hardy, John Mackey
![1981 flood](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/1981-flood_0_2.jpg)
1981 flood
![AC Gallo working in Bread and Circus, acquired in 1992](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/ac-and-his-apron_1.jpg)
AC Gallo working in Bread and Circus, acquired in 1992
![Anita Tschurr doing cereal demo at Houston's Shepherd store](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/anita-tschurr_1-683x1024.jpg)
Anita Tschurr doing cereal demo at Houston's Shepherd store
![George Eckrich (rt., aka Dr. Kracker, a Whole Foods Market vendor) at Austin Brodie Oaks sourdough bakery (mid-80s)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/brodiesourdoughbakery_1-1024x668.jpg)
George Eckrich (rt., aka Dr. Kracker, a Whole Foods Market vendor) at Austin Brodie Oaks sourdough bakery (mid-80s)
![James Parker in bulk department in Austin's former Crossroads store](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/bulk-department-at-crossroadsstore_1-1024x823.jpg)
James Parker in bulk department in Austin's former Crossroads store
![David Matthis and John Mackey for Houston's Shepherd opening (1984)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/d-matthis-j-mackey_1-1024x664.jpg)
David Matthis and John Mackey for Houston's Shepherd opening (1984)
![Frank Wellerding at Austin's former Brodie Oaks store (mid-80s)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/frankwellerdingproducelmr_1-1024x700.jpg)
Frank Wellerding at Austin's former Brodie Oaks store (mid-80s)
![John Mackey and Lex Alexander (Wellspring co-founder)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/john-lex_1-670x1024.jpg)
John Mackey and Lex Alexander (Wellspring co-founder)
![John Mackey at Dallas's Greenville Ave. store (relocated to Lakewood in 2009)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/john-mackey-red-shirt_1.jpg)
John Mackey at Dallas's Greenville Ave. store (relocated to Lakewood in 2009)
![Former Esplanade store in New Orleans](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/new_orleans_esplanade.jpg)
Former Esplanade store in New Orleans
![Renee Lawson Hardy (middle) working at Sweet Dreams at former Austin Brodie Oaks store (1985)](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/renee-lawson-hardy_1-1024x674.jpg)
Renee Lawson Hardy (middle) working at Sweet Dreams at former Austin Brodie Oaks store (1985)
![Post-flood Resurrection Party poster](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/d4aaddd1f940b6452946f2e9586746c6f0300894.jpg)
Post-flood Resurrection Party poster
![Tofu Triplets: John Mackey, Craig Weller, Mark Skiles](https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/app/uploads/2020/05/tofu.jpg)