“It started when I moved into a vegetarian co-op back in the '70s, and that's really when I had my food consciousness awakened. I learned how to cook, and eventually I became the food buyer for the entire co-op. Not long after that, I went to work for a small natural food store in Austin, and I became very excited and passionate about it.”

American businessman and author

John Mackey is an American businessman and author. He is best known as the co-founder of Whole Foods Market and for leading the company as chief executive from its start in 1980 until his retirement in 2022. He later became the chief executive of Love.Life, which he also co-founded. His public profile is tied to business leadership, entrepreneurship, and the company he helped build into a major name in food retail.