Whole Foods to Lay Off Hundreds of Corporate Employees in Company-Wide Restructuring of Certain Teams The company announced on Thursday that new changes would impact employees in "different ways."

By Madeline Garfinkle

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

China News Service | Getty Images

As Whole Foods begins a company-wide restructuring plan to examine company costs, several hundred employees will be laid off, multiple outlets have reported.

In a memo released to employees on Thursday, Whole Foods stated it will carry out a variety of changes over the next two months and make changes to its Global and Regional Support Teams that would impact those workers "in different ways."

"While change is necessary and healthy for a sustainable business, it can also be very challenging, particularly when it affects the lives of Team Members," the company wrote in the memo, obtained by CNBC.

In addition to layoffs, Whole Foods said it is reducing its operating regions from nine to six. However, the downsizing of operating regions will not result in any store closures, the company wrote in the memo, but rather redrawing the map of operations so that some locations with join other regions.

Related: Google Is Cutting Back on Some of Its Iconic Perks Amid Cost Cutting Initiatives

"As we simplify processes and improve how we operate, we will be able to quickly respond to evolving business needs, focus more on our most impactful work, and invest in new ways to serve all stakeholders," the memo said.

The exact number of employees laid off remains unclear, but some now-former employees are posting about being laid off on LinkedIn.

"Almost 3 years ago to the date I was laid off during the pandemic. Unfortunately today, I'm having deja vu," one former employee wrote in a LinkedIn post. "It's with a heavy heart that I share that my position at Whole Foods Market was eliminated."

Related: Amazon Opens Revolutionary Whole Foods With Technology That Could Make More Than 3 Million U.S. Jobs Obsolete

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at BIZ Experiences.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Jobs AI Is Most Likely to Automate, According to a Microsoft Study

These careers are most likely to be affected by generative AI, based on data from 200,000 conversations with Microsoft's Copilot chatbot.