At the age of 52, John Mackey has become that big man on campus in corporate America, running a Fortune 500 company.
Yet, in one of the most competitive industries, Mackey's unorthodox approach has transformed Whole Foods Market into a business worth about $9 billion. In the last five years alone, the company's stock has grown faster than such powerhouses as eBay, Yahoo and Microsoft. And he has done it by creating a supermarket unlike any other.
"Shopping for groceries for most people is like a chore," says Mackey. "It's like doing the laundry or taking out the garbage. And we strive to make shopping engaging, fun and interactive."
