Michael Pollan calls their prose "supermarket pastoral"

[substitute]

From a nameless source, Whole Foods Market's list of key words and phrases to use during an interview:

Above and beyond
Best practices
Brighter future for farm animals
Championing
Company with a conscience
Compassion
Comfort, physical safety and health
Core values
Educate
Excellence
Follow our lead
Giving our shoppers choices
Global
Going the extra mile
Happy animals
Highest standard
Homework for our shoppers
Humane treatment
Innovator
Inspire
Library of best practices
Looking out for shoppers
Knowledge-sharing
Marks 25 years as an innovator leader
Methodology
Mission-driven
Natural environments, behaviors, needs
Open spaces
Passion
Peace of mind
Pioneering
Raising the bar
Relating with animals
Remaining true to our mission and core values
Repository for knowledge
Responsible tenant of our planet
Role model in industry
Sharing
Strictest standards in industry
Supersede
Top priority
Well-being
World wide initiative

Comments

[springheel-jack.livejournal.com]

I'm to say each of those things when being interviewed?

Problem is, at least here, the queue for jobs at the new Whole Foods is entirely occupied by people trying to jump ship from Wild Oats, which is the Chinese Sweatshop of high-end natural foods n' snake oil shoppes.

[substitute.livejournal.com]

I think they are the words managers are to use when interviewing employees.

Yeah, Whole Foods is apparently not a shitty place to work if you're going to be working grocery. Around here the local chain, Mother's, is a better bet for employees. But it's like Starbucks. Everyone loves to hate Starbucks but if I had to pull espresso shots for a living I'd work for them. Charming indie coffee shop has no benefits and pays minimum.

[springheel-jack.livejournal.com]

I dunno how good their health insurance is, but it can't be much worse than mine is. I'd work at the 'bucks.

Heh.

I don't like starbucks for two reasons. 1) they are all the same and they're everywhere and 2) the coffee isn't that good.

[substitute.livejournal.com]

I don't like starbucks for two reasons. 1) they are all the same and they're everywhere and 2) the coffee isn't that good.

Exactly. They're the Holiday Inn. That's great when what you need is drinkable caffeine in a mall in Double Butthole, GA but if you have an option that tastes better, go for it.

When I was in Kansas City in 1997 there was exactly one Starbucks, the kind in a Barnes & Noble, and two not-so-great indie coffee houses in the whole town.

[springheel-jack.livejournal.com]

I almost had to grow up there.

[klikitak.livejournal.com]

Hey, FYI, I had great coffee in Double Butthole!

And I loved working for Whole Foods, while it lasted in Triangle Square.

[hweimei.livejournal.com]

My kid applied at Whole Foods once. They gave her a personality test, and bless her heart, she answered everything truthfully. Of course that meant that her personality wasn't a match for Whole Foods.

[gcrumb.livejournal.com]

"We've made it our top priority to embark on a world wide initiative, raising the bar in the way we relate to animals. The lighting in our meat section goes the extra mile in illuminating our open spaces, ensuring a brighter future for farm animals."