Though Trader Joe's and Whole Foods appeal to a similar demographic, they're very different chains. Whole Foods is a chain with full-assortment (i.e., big) locations specializing in natural products, produce, and prepared, ready to eat foods and featuring organic.

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.

Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format.