Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM): Here’s Why This Makes Sense

In the video below we hear from Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appetit Management. His company has built its reputation on locally sourced, seasonal, healthy foods, and is actively involved in sustainability issues affecting every aspect of the food industry.

We look at Conscious Capitalism and Bauccio’s belief in the need to create an emotional attachment by pursuing goals that are important to both consumers and employees. If people share in your values, he explains, profit will follow.

The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: “The Motley Fool’s Top Stock for 2013.” Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Isaac Pino: I believe in a few weeks from now you’ll be speaking at a Conscious Capitalism summit. This is a concept that has inspired quite a few companies, including our founders here at The Motley Fool. The CEO — you mentioned John Mackey at Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM), The Container Store — how did you get acquainted with Conscious Capitalism, and do you believe more companies should embrace this idea?

Fedele Bauccio: I don’t know. They found me somehow.

I think this is a great idea, but you know this is not a new idea, Conscious Capitalism. I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I think that you’ve got to make money if you’re going to do good. There’s no question about it.

But any product or service today that’s going to start a company — and some of you might be entrepreneurs in the future — you’ve got to be able to create this emotional attachment I’m talking about; a brand that’s going to do some good, where the consumers are going to recognize and say, “You know, this is great stuff. This is what I want to do.”

There’s lots of examples of that. The Honest Teas of the world, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)s of the world; all of these companies have tried to say, “How do we do something really terrific that’s uniquely different, that we know is good for people, and still make money?”

I think that’s where we were 25 years ago. I wanted to change the industry. I didn’t really care about profits at that time. In fact, we didn’t make any money for five years. I almost went bankrupt twice. But what was important to me was that we stayed focused on the values and the dream that I had in my head, and we have done that.