This week’s post is really a fun one! We’re going to peek behind the curtain at some businesses that have purpose nailed down. I chose to use some very well known brands as examples, but once you start to recognize Conscious Capitalism, you’ll start seeing it everywhere you go! If you would like to tell us about businesses you see, share them to us on Facebook or comment below. Sharing the message is one of the best ways you can help spread the concept. So now, without further ado, here are some of my favorite purpose-driven businesses (note: my examples were a little long for one post, so I’m splitting up the examples to keep things shorter).
First up, is Whole Foods Market.
We definitely need to talk about them as their CEO, John Mackay, co-authored one of the first books about purpose, titled Conscious Capitalism.
Whole Foods Market started as one natural and organic foods store in Austin, Texas in 1980. Today they are well known for their quality, organic groceries. With 500 stores in the U.S. and the U.K., they’re definitely doing something right. Let’s look at their purpose, core values, and more!
Purpose: Our purpose is to nourish people and the planet. We’re a purpose-driven company that aims to set the standards of excellence for food retailers. Quality is a state of mind at Whole Foods Market.
Core Values:
- Sell the highest quality natural and organic foods
- Satisfy and delight our customers
- Promote Team Member Growth and Happiness
- Practice Win-Win partnerships with our Suppliers
- Create profits and prosperity to create long-term value
- We Care about our Community and Environment
Stakeholder: One of Whole Foods Market’s core values is to create win-win partnerships with suppliers. They do their best to treat every vendor as an ally in their service to customers. With respect, fairness, and integrity. Their Stakeholders are identified as: Customers, Vendors, Community, and Environment
Culture: At Whole Foods Market, their leaders work hard to promote the growth of their team. Not just professionally, but personally as well. They promote communication between all levels, an open door policy, and inclusive practices. They also promote a culture of service to the community by providing ample opportunity for volunteerism. In another way, Whole Foods also promotes the culture of each individual community by supporting local culture, cuisine, and producers.
Leadership: You could find no better leader in the field of Conscious Capitalism than John Mackay. He literally wrote the book! If you would like to learn more about how he inspires his workers- check out his blog.
Whole Foods Market has become so successful in their journey of promoting communities, that they have created three different foundations!
Whole Planet Foundation is the arm that focuses on alleviating poverty around the world. They do so by providing micro-loans to entrepreneurs around the world. The loans allow these people to create businesses in their community to help themselves and their families out of poverty. The average loan is $178, and 88% of those loans have been made to women. Overall, $90 million has been invested in the program.
Whole Kids Foundation provides grants to schools to help them develop healthy options in the cafeteria, as well as teach kids from an early age about good nutrition. To date they have provided grants to 11,708 schools and impacted the lives of over 6 million kids! They’ve also funded bee grants for 400 new beehives to prevent extinction.
Whole Cities Foundation gives grants to communities that want to expand the accessibility of healthy food for all. The foundation also promotes what is best for the communities they serve by promoting non-profit efforts in the community that encourage healthy habits.
Can you see how their foundation efforts and inclusive policies are directly aligned with their purpose and core values? That’s what Conscious business is all about! I have more examples headed your way this week-stay tuned.
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