AUSTIN, Texas (July 17, 2003) Whole Foods Market, Inc., (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's largest natural and organic foods supermarket, announced that Margaret Wittenberg has taken on an expanded role at the company. Most recently serving as the vice president of governmental and public affairs, Wittenberg has worked diligently in her more than 22 years with Whole Foods Market to provide guidance in quality assurance, food safety, governmental issues, food and nutrition education, and corporate communication. Wittenberg will now additionally lead the marketing, public relations and consumer research efforts in a newly created position.
“The intertwining areas of organic agriculture, sustainability, the environment and passion for high quality, delicious food runs deep in Whole Foods Market's culture,” said Walter Robb, executive vice president of operations for Whole Foods Market. “Margaret's passion for our product quality and the initiatives we support will truly enhance our brand-building as we forge ahead to communicate and educate our customers and team members about what makes Whole Foods Market so special — and so different from other food stores.”
A nationally recognized expert on sustainable agriculture with nearly 25 years of experience in the natural and organic foods industry, Wittenberg has impeccable integrity and credibility within the company and in the marketplace. She joined Whole Foods Market in 1981 and stands at the very core of the company's culture. She has worked closely with key organizations including: the EPA/USDA Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition; the Organic Trade Association Board of Directors, including co-chairing the Government Affairs Committee; and the Marine Stewardship Council Board of Trustees, where she serves as co-chair of the commercial sector of the Stakeholder Council. She played an integral role in the creation of the new national organic standards, including a five-year term as the sole retail representative on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board. She has also authored three books on the topics of food and nutrition. Prior to her tenure at Whole Foods Market, Wittenberg owned and operated a natural foods market with her husband, Terry, in Wisconsin.
