Whole Foods

Whole Foods, founded in 1980 by John Mackey and a band of Austin hippies, has become the go-to destination for organic snobs and gluten-free zealots alike. Known for its pricey kale and questionable claim to be the epitome of ethical eating, Whole Foods carved its niche in the organic market with the ethos of "whole paychecks for whole foods." Its defining moment came in 2017 when Amazon, fresh from its conquest of book sales, swooped in and acquired it for a cool $13.7 billion, bringing a touch of digital retailing magic to the green-tinged aisles. Despite its impressive valuation of around $18 billion, the supermarket chain has faced its share of drama, from accusations of inflated prices to controversies over its environmental policies. Recent years have seen it struggle to balance its high-end image with the cost-conscious demands of Amazon's empire, leading to a recalibration of its luxurious yet politically correct product lines. Leadership now sits under Amazon's Jeff Bezos but remains influenced by Mackey’s enduring influence and his pursuit of a "conscious capitalism" that sometimes seems to clash with reality. Whole Foods is the grocery store where you’ll pay premium prices for the illusion of virtue—so stock up on your kombucha and kale, and prepare for a bit of sticker shock.