Whole Foods Market

Selecting this year's LEAP: Early Growth cohort was a doozy. We received over 1600 applications from talented, passionate, & creative founders. Innovation and entrepreneurship are alive and well in the CPG industry.   Narrowing the application pool to the final 10 is always a difficult journey, but this year it was especially challenging. That said, this year's applications, semi-finalists & finalists made me especially hopeful for the future of the industry. I saw more brands than ever doing smart and mindful business: setting themselves up for sustainable growth; focusing on climate smart sourcing, taking smart risks, and educating themselves on what it takes to have a chance at success in this industry. Thank you to every brand & founder who took the time to apply and engage in the selection process. You inspire me endlessly. You will do great things.   And now for the big news: I'm excited to welcome and congratulate the 2024 LEAP: Early Growth cohort. I cannot overstate how excited I am for these 10 brands & founders. Despite a wide diversity in product, mission, and founder experience - there are strong common threads of resilience, vision, entrepreneurial spirit and the drive to make a positive impact.   Huge congratulations to Aahana's (Sonal Khakhar), Bowlcut (Crystal Ung), Date Better Snacks (Michelle Valdez- Wilton), Edenesque (Leslie Woodward), Freezcake (Jenifer Shwartz), Geem (Candice Choi), Maté Party (Jesica Oliverio), SAM+LEO (Dara Erck), Sibeiho (Holly Ong), and TUYYO (Stefanie Garcia Turner)!

“I started as a part-time Cashier for Whole Foods Market in Evanston, IL, during the age of coupon books. I would ferociously memorize the coupons for the month so I could surprise customers with extra discounts on their purchases, officially earning my “coupon cashier” title. After showing some interest in the Whole Body department, I worked some shifts and eventually moved to the team, diving deep into product knowledge. I later became a Buyer and then transferred to our Fullerton store as a Market Associate Team Leader. At the beginning of COVID, I moved to Baton Rouge as a Whole Body Team Trainer and finally settled in as a Store Trainer. I shuffled around a bit, but that's what's so exciting about working for Whole Foods: My path highlights my drive to know and do more, and I gratefully work somewhere I can exercise those curiosities. It's one of the reasons I became a Culture Champion, and I'm equally grateful I did. I’ve always dreamed of visiting our suppliers and seeing the process of how we get the products on our shelves. So, I was thrilled to be chosen to join an 'In the Field with Jason' trip to North Carolina where we visited Gaia Herbs, a Certified B Corporation actively working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. A little backstory: I had a hit-and-run bike accident and was really struggling with inflammation and sleeping; a customer suggested that I try Gaia’s Turmeric Supreme Pain P.M. formula. It became the driving force in my recovery and inflammation relief when I needed a solution. I felt overwhelming gratitude while creating that memory, stepping onto the property, knowing I could actually take that step partially thanks to the work they do. When I first started at Whole Foods Market, I didn’t even know what ‘organic’ was. But since then, I’ve learned so much about ingredients, health and wellness, and the impact we can all create. I feel seen and appreciated for the skills and knowledge I bring to the table in a way I didn’t expect. I’ve experienced more than I ever thought I could by working at a grocery store.” - Hailee Fourcade, Whole Body Team Trainer #Ashville #InTheField #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"Every day in Austin has been fun! With activities happening constantly, delicious food and opportunities to cool off at Barton Springs, the city feels so alive. There's a contagious, energetic vibe in the air, and it's completely caught me. Some fantastic restaurants I've tried and would recommend are Cuantos Tacos and La BBQ. Aside from getting to know Austin, and learning more about groceries and the #TeamWFM culture, building my technical skills has been a key goal I've enjoyed experiencing during my internship. I was a data analyst in the past, but it was too coding-heavy for me. As a business analytics intern, I get to focus on extracting insights and presenting them to leadership, helping to make informed strategic decisions to move the business forward." - Jordan Emmer, Business, Customer, & Marketing Analytics Graduate Intern #Analytics #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing

"Hi! I'm Ailbhe. I'm going into my senior year at THE (!) Ohio State University, working towards my BS in Business Administration with a specialization in Real Estate & Urban Analysis and a minor in City & Regional Planning. Over the last two years, I've worked as an In-Store Shopper at two Whole Foods Market locations (Chappaqua, NY and West Lane, OH). I fell in love with the culture, Core Values and Purpose. This piqued my interest in the Store Support Offices, so I applied to be an Intern … ... And joined the Merchandising Presentation team, focusing on editing and building planograms for our stores. I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring this avenue of work and immersing myself further in the #TeamWFM culture. Working as a Shopper, I find picking and packing items for customers fulfilling; it allows you to provide for customers who placed orders and simultaneously assist in-store customers, all while gaining product and company knowledge. During my internship, I gained insight into e-commerce metrics and the company story as a Culture Champion, further motivating me to learn more about how what I see in the store comes to fruition at our Store Support Offices. Learning the bits and pieces of different departments has been inspiring and captivating, increasing my admiration of Whole Foods. Witnessing the amount of effort and hands that go into curating the perfect customer experience while continuing to produce groundbreaking work companywide is invigorating, and it feels amazing to be associated with this company. I couldn't be happier with my internship experience and my role on the team. My dream is to continue my journey at Whole Foods: A career in the Real Estate department would be a cherry on top, being a core part of strategically opening new stores around the globe. I'm super excited to continue my role in the stores for my last year of school, and hopefully, I'll find my way back to Austin in the future." - Ailbhe Brady, Merch Intern #Merchandise #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM

🚨 Attention all Students 🚨 We want you to #GrowYourCareer with us :) Here at Whole Foods Market, growth matters. So, from September through October, we're hosting weekly, virtual discussions with various teams to share more about our current opportunities, different career paths and the exciting projects we're working on. Regardless of your major or passion, we have a conversation for you — use the link to join in: https://lnkd.in/gEF_UTJG #NourishPeople #NourishConnection #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

"I think that the land here is so rich, it has so much to offer, and we have so much to share through stewarding it with other people.” - Amy Ager, Founder and Owner, Hickory Nut Gap 💚💚💚 We're heading back to the farm to get further insights into what Amy and her husband — fourth-generation farmer and Hickory Nut Gap CEO, Jamie — do to build a healthy farming system that champions cultivating the relationship between the land, the animals and ourselves. 🔗 Stay awhile: https://lnkd.in/eQRA3PS8 #RegenerativeAgriculture #NourishPurpose #NourishPeople #TeamWFM

"This summer, I worked in Team Member Services (HR), focusing on people data and enhancing the onboarding program for executives. I was originally in creative marketing but started my coding journey during the summer of my junior year. As someone who has never excelled in STEM subjects at school, this was definitely a shocker and was not on my bingo list for 2024. Now, I would say my dream, full-time role would be in data analytics concerning consumer or team insights." - Karen Chang, Executive Recruiting Strategy Intern #Data #NourishPeople #NourishGrowth #TeamWFM

Families drove hours to meet me in-person on my 15-City Whole Foods tour stops & I will never forget the overwhelming love & support I received. Thank you to Whole Foods Market, Megan Causgrove, Casey Gaston, & Kayla Jopling for believing in Team Genius Squad and providing me with the opportunity to educate, impact, and encourage thousands on S.T.E.M. and the limitless possibilities for the neurodivergent population and children as a whole. Moreover, I am now able to attend a school specifically for children with Dyslexia and provide S.T.E.M. kits & activities to children in underserved areas through my non-profit Team Genius Squad, Inc. The Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children #WholeFoodsMarket #WomenInSTEM #Neurodivergent #Dyslexia #Dysgraphia #TeamGeniusSquad #YouthEntrepreneur #DyslexiaIsMySuperpower

"We all have our role to play. The work is so much bigger than any one of us. And we all have to play our part to empower consumers to use their dollars to make choices for climate good." - Ann Marie Hourigan, Principal Quality Standards Advisor 💚💚💚 North Carolina shared a wealth of knowledge and provided a breath of fresh ideas for 14 Team Members in our third 'In the Field with Jason' trip! Take a look and join them in conversations centered around responsible farming with a few of our local partners as they each share their purpose with us. #Ashville #InTheField #NourishPlanet #NourishPurpose #NourishConnection #TeamWFM

"Whole Foods Market is my family; it is where I have grown the most as a leader and person. I started my career six years ago as an Associate Store Team Leader, trying to further align my love and passion for food with retail. I'll admit, I was intimidated at first, but because of how much support I wanted to give to Team Members and the community, I knew I needed to be here. In all my working years, Whole Foods has had the biggest impact on my life. I love the connection I receive here: connecting with people, talking to customers or listening to the funny stories my Team Members share are all major reasons I stay. I have been a part of many store openings and enjoy the experience of setting a core foundation. As the first Daily Shop Store Leader for our new Daily Shops, I'm looking forward to the future of convenience in grocery retail and how Lenox Hill will be the blueprint for future openings. My ethic is to 'get it done with my team': If that means bagging during rush hour or heating a slice of pizza at lunch rush, I am all in. I look forward to welcoming you all to the Dream Team that will be Lenox Hill!" - Timeisha Brisco, (the first!) Daily Shop Store Leader #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TeamWFM