379. Whole Foods’ holistic approach to merchandising and customer service

Whole Foods places its whole focus on serving and nourishing its shoppers. Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Whole Foods Market, joins us to talk about how Whole Foods stays ahead of food trends, builds trust with its customers and leads the industry in high-quality sourcing. She also shares her career journey, what she loves most about working in merchandising and marketing, and her approach to problem-solving in the retail industry.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:01:31) Oblisk’s career journey

(00:05:45) Why Oblisk loves merchandising & marketing

(00:08:11) Getting to know the Whole Foods customer

(00:11:10) Leading in trends and quality control

(00:13:11) What’s next for Whole Foods in 2025

(00:19:45) Oblisk’s best career advice

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Resources:

• wholefoodsmarket.com

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• Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association

• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org

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• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com

Related:

• 10 retail experiences you shouldn't miss in New York City