Does Amazon Own 100% of Whole Foods?

Amazon is a giant online retailer and one of the largest companies in the world. It has recently acquired Whole Foods Market, the grocery store chain, for approximately $13.7 billion. This acquisition has raised the question of how much of Whole Foods does Amazon own?

The Acquisition
The acquisition was announced in June 2017 and was approved by Whole Foods shareholders later that same month. The deal closed on August 28th, 2017 and Amazon immediately began to integrate its technology into the stores.

This includes Amazon’s cashier-less checkout system, which allows customers to scan items with their mobile phones and pay without ever needing to speak to a cashier. Amazon also offers discounts on certain items at Whole Foods stores and has opened an Amazon pickup location at some locations.

Who Owns What?
When it comes to who owns what, the answer is not as simple as you might think. While Amazon owns the majority stake in Whole Foods Market, it is not 100% owned by them.

In fact, there are several other shareholders who own a portion of the company. These include John Mackey, Whole Foods’ former CEO; Leonard Green & Partners; and other institutional investors such as BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and State Street Corporation.

Impact on Other Grocers
The acquisition of Whole Foods has had a significant impact on other grocery stores such as Kroger and Walmart. Both companies have seen their stock prices decline since Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods due to fears that they will be unable to compete with Amazon’s aggressive pricing strategies and technological advancements in grocery retailing.

Conclusion: Does Amazon Own 100% of Whole Foods?
No, Amazon does not own 100% of Whole Foods Market. While it owns a majority stake in the company, there are several other shareholders who own portions of it as well. The acquisition has had an impact on other grocery stores due to fears that they will be unable to compete with Amazon’s aggressive pricing strategies and technological advancements in grocery retailing.