Amazon.com has tapped Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel to oversee its sprawling grocery business, the company announced Monday. Buechel became CEO of Whole Foods in 2022 after co-founder John Mackey retired from the company. In his expanded role leading Amazon’s grocery business, Buechel will succeed Tony Hoggett, who left Amazon last October to join Wonder, a food delivery startup led by serial entrepreneur Marc Lore. Buechel will oversee not only Whole Foods, but also Amazon’s larger grocery business, which includes its line of Fresh supermarkets, Go cashier-less stores, and online grocery service.
Total Retail's Take: Amazon is continuing its push to cement itself as a grocery destination, elevating its Whole Foods CEO into the vice president of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores (WWGS) position.
"In his time as CEO, Jason has unlocked our ability to make high-quality natural and organic groceries more affordable and accessible to customers, helping Whole Foods Market (WFM) achieve record sales growth and expand to over 535 locations," said Worldwide Amazon Stores CEO Doug Herrington in a note to employees.
The e-commerce giant created a single WWGS organization in 2022, bringing its Fresh and Whole Foods grocery businesses closer together and launching new offerings like its Grocery Subscription. Amazon's grocery strategy has shifted several times as the retailer began removing its cashier-less checkout system from Fresh stores, opting to sell its Just Walk Out technology to other retailers; shuttered some Fresh and Go stores; began piloting a combined Whole Foods store and Fresh warehouse shopping location; and delivering Amazon.com products and fresh grocery items together in select markets, among other initiatives.
"We’ve taken steps to integrate our huge grocery selection across our broader logistics network and create a more seamless experience for customers, especially Prime members. This work will continue under Jason’s leadership," stated Herrington.
- Companies:
- Amazon.com
- People:
- Jason Buechel
Kristina Stidham is the digital content director at Total Retail and sister brands Women in Retail Leadership Circle and Women Leading Travel & Hospitality at NAPCO Media. She is passionate about digital media and handles video, podcast and virtual event production for all brands. You can often find her at WIRLC, TR, WLT&H or industry events with her camera and podcasting equipment—or at home on Zoom—recording interviews with thought leaders and business executives.
Kristina holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Production from the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication in Philadelphia. Go Owls! When she's not in the office, she loves to go on long walks, sing around the house, hangout with her family and two pet guinea pigs, and travel to new places.