Whole Foods' CEO Named National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - John P. Mackey, chairman, president and c.e.o. of Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market, has been named the 2003 Overall National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year. He was recognized for building Whole Foods into the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods.

Mackey was honored as both a category winner in the Retail and Consumer Products Category, and the overall award winner on Nov. 22 in Palm Springs, Calif. Other award recipients in 10 industry categories were also announced.

All Entrepreneur Of The Year winners were selected from 400 regional award recipients by an independent panel of judges. In addition to being named the overall Entrepreneur Of The Year in the United States, Mackey will join entrepreneurs from around the world for the 2004 World Entrepreneur Of The Year program, which takes place in Monte Carlo in June of 2004.

National finalists in the Retail and Consumer Products category included Ronald Shaich, Chairman and c.e.o., Panera Bread Company, a national chain of bakery-cafes; and Jill Blashack, Founder, President and c.e.o., Tastefully Simple, a direct sales company of upscale, gourmet foods.
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