Between running billion-dollar companies and managing hundreds of employees, most CEOs don’t have time to go grocery shopping.
But Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel chooses to shop 14 times a week.
“I go to the grocery store at least twice a day, every day,” Buechl said in a recent interview. luckThe leader of the Austin, Texas-based company said he was visiting 80,000 sq. ft. The chef goes to the supermarket at lunchtime and returns after work to buy fresh ingredients for dinner. The self-proclaimed “gourmet” browses the cheeses and peruses the salad bar, often making “detailed” shopping lists on an Excel sheet to plan a particular recipe.
Courtesy of Whole Foods
“I worked at one of the best restaurants in Austin,” said Buechele, who became CEO in 2022. He takes over from famed founder John Mackey, who held the position for 42 years before Buechele took over after a transition period lasting about a year. Amazon bought the organic grocery chain for $13.7 billion in 2017.
The 46-year-old gave luck An exclusive look at his daily routine, which consists of “a minimum of 10 meetings a day,” a six-mile run, and twice-daily trips to Whole Foods Market.
Between meetings, Buechl enjoys eating the salad bar creations at Whole Foods Market and loves trying new recipes with produce he picks up from around the store.
“I can’t host a party without asking our cheesemongers for recommendations on how to create an impressive cheese and cold meat platter,” he said. Buechel has a deep connection to fresh cheese and fresh vegetables. He started Gardening at age 7His parents grew up on dairy farms. His father was a cheesemaker, Buechl told us. Harvard Business Review.
But going to Whole Foods Market is about more than just getting food and getting the benefits of 20% discount for employees For Bushell, he considers it the key to his business success.
Regular visits to Whole Foods Market stores across the country allow him to connect with grocery team members, learn from their experiences, and gather real-time feedback from customers. Buechl says his shopping strategy helps him understand the business and “grow as a leader”—a fact evident in his recent decision to slash prices to appease shoppers tired of inflation.
But one-stop shopping trips aren’t the only thing that helps Buechel make smart business moves.
Like former Starbucks CEO Lakshman Narasimhan, who spent six months working at a coffee shop to “immerse” himself in the work, Buechl spends his time working in stores to understand what works at Whole Foods — especially during the busy holiday season.
“Whether I’m helping restock products, bagging groceries, or helping support holiday meal pickup, it’s always fun to connect with, help and work with our customers and team members,” said Buechl.
The CEO also said, luck He apprenticed under a butcher at a Whole Foods Market to learn how to perfectly cut ribeye steaks and sirloin steaks, and recently graduated from the grocery store’s bakery decorating program to understand the basics of cake decorating.
“It’s very important for all of us as leaders.”