Story perspectives
John Mackey Reflects on Whole Foods' Amazon Sale in Memoir
10/24/2025
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Story summary
- Activist investors pressured John Mackey, cofounder of Whole Foods Market, to sell to Amazon in 2017, leaving him with limited options.
- Jana Partners, which held an 8.8% stake, demanded immediate changes.
- The acquisition, valued at $13.7 billion, closed in August 2017.
- Mackey retired in 2022.
- Mackey published a memoir detailing his experiences.
