Whole Foods Market Case Study

INTRODUCTION

Whole Foods Market, Inc is the largest chain of natural foods supermarkets operating in the United States. The company enjoys strong brand name recognition in the fast-growing niche market for natural foods. The company operates under SIC Code 5411, Grocery Stores. Whole Foods defines natural foods as foods that are not processed or are processed to a very small extent and almost free of artificial ingredients, preservatives and other non-naturally occurring chemicals. The company operates stores in 26 states of the US and in the District of Columbia (Whole Foods Market, 2010). The company's growth strategy focuses on internal expansion, acquisitions and increasing same store sales. Whole Foods offers a range of products such as bakery items, catering menus in stores, coffee, grocery, meat and poultry, prepared foods, seafoods, liquor, and nutritional dairy foods (Datamonitor, 2004). Food products stocked in Whole Foods stores are designed to appeal to both gourmet and natural foods shoppers (Datamonitor, 2004).

The point method system strategic evaluates each job by breaking them down into compensable factors and evaluating them each separately. Whole Foods Market (WFM) has in total six core values that drive company operations daily. Using these values, four compensable factors can be derived that can be used when evaluating jobs within the company. These four are:

* Quality: Ensuring that the products and services are fresh, vibrant, safe and of great satisfaction to the consumer

* Customer service: Ensuring that the experience at Whole Foods is pleasant, fun, fast, and leaves the customer with a strong understanding of the Whole Food's brand

* Awareness: Acknowledging that team members have a strong understanding of product knowledge, integrity, education and team building skills to work well not only with customers but with employees

* Social Responsibility: Holding fast to a community presence, honesty and transparency in all business dealings

Job Titles

Job A: Team Member- Food Service

Job B: Team Member- Retail Service Worker

Job C: Department Team Member- Foods Department Supervisor

Job D: Associate Team Leader-Assistant Supervisor

Job E: Team Member-Dish Washer

Job F: Team Member-Inventory Auditor

Job G: Assistant Team Leader-Assistant Store Manager

Job H: Store Support-Regional Support/Operations Manager

Job I: Team Member-Inventory Worker

Source: www.Wholefoodsmarket.com

Point Method System with Weighted Averages

CompensableFactors | Job A | Job B | Job C | Job D | Job E | Job F | Job G | Job H | Job I |

Quality30% | 100 | 100 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 50 | 150 | 100 | 50 |

Customer Service50% | 200 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 300 | 100 |

Awareness10 % | 100 | 100 | 100 | 25 | 200 | 300 | 150 | 50 | 300 |

Social Responsibility10% | 100 | 100 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 50 |

<Note 500 is the Scale>

Job Description

Job D- Associate Team Leader-Assistant Supervisor

Job B- Team Member- Retail Service Worker

Job C- Department Team Member- Foods Department Supervisor

Job H - Store Support-Regional Support/Operations Manager

Job G- Assistant Team Leader-Assistant Store Manager

Job A- Team Member- Food Service

Job E- Team Member-Dish Washer

Job F- Team Member-Inventory Auditor

Job I- Team Member-Inventory Worker

Evaluation of Jobs (Process, Techniques & Factors)

Four compensable factors were chosen that reflect the growth strategy, current values and vision for WFM. The compensable factors of Quality, Customer Service, Awareness and Social Responsibility helps evaluate and ensure:

*