Founded in Austin, Texas in 1980, Whole Foods Market is an international grocer specializing in the sale of natural and organic products, including produce, seafood, meat and poultry, bakery items, prepared foods, spirits, dairy products, bath and beauty items, floral sales, pet products, and household products. Whole Foods has currently has more than 270 locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with plans to expand in the coming years.

Since many of the items carried by Whole Foods are specialty items, their pricing can often be higher than other grocers, resulting them having the tongue-in-cheek nickname of "Whole Paycheck." However, Whole Foods makes an effort to keep their prices as low as possible while still ensuring fair exchanges with their providers and adequate pay and benefits for their employees. Whole Foods also is a huge donor to charities, including by having frequent "5% Days," where 5% of all of the day's profits go to predesignated local, regional, or national charities.

Although Whole Foods has developed its reputation based on the high quality of items it sells, it is also known for those it does not carry. Whole Foods maintains an "Unacceptable Food Ingredients" list of ingredients it will not sell in its stores. This means that patrons of Whole Foods will not find items containing hydrogenated fats or artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives; plastic items must be free of Bisphenol A (BPA). As part of its commitment to animal rights, Whole Foods Market also does not sell live seafood, foie gras, items from cloned animals, or eggs from hens in battery cages.