In 2017 Whole Foods was acquired by Amazon.com. The first Whole Foods store opened its doors in Austin in September 1980, after John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of the SaferWay health food store, joined forces with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery.

Both groceries offer a vast range of products, with everything from bacon to exotic superfoods, but Whole Foods has much more brand variety than Trader Joe's. Joe's certainly sells other brands, but much of the store is populated with its own brand. That is not to say that this brand isn't delicious, however.

The Bottom Line. Whole Foods is a certified organic retailer, committed to supporting local farmers and suppliers. Although consumers commonly report higher pricing at Whole Foods, its acquisition by Amazon has enabled Whole Foods customers to enjoy discounts as Prime subscribers with more perks at Whole Foods Markets.

Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market in 2017 for $13.7 billion. Before the purchase, Whole Foods had seen declining sales for several quarters. Warren Buffett and Albertsons were two other potential buyers who said no to the opportunity.