As the U.S. food sector emerges from COVID, management of retail chains are evaluating head count and organizational structure.
Whole Foods Market has announced that their nine operating regions will be reduced to six with corresponding layoffs including regional presidents and with as many as 700 positions eliminated. Whole Foods Market operates 500 stores but the reorganization will not affect existing locations or plans to expand in the future
The decision by Whole Foods Market is consistent with belt-tightening by Amazon.com Inc. the holding company that has also initiated a program of downsizing and rationalization to reduce operating costs.