Amazon Set to Integrate Entire Whole Foods Workforce

Amazon is set to integrate the entire Whole Foods workforce into its systems. This initiative, known as Project Cremini, aims to streamline the operations of Whole Foods’ over 100,000 employees by next year. This plan includes both corporate and frontline workers, ensuring all staff members utilize Amazon’s employee management systems.

Integration of Whole Foods Workforce

The integration process will encompass performance reviews, workplace tools, and payroll management. Payments will be made directly by Amazon, reinforcing the unification of grocery operations within the company. Since acquiring Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017, Amazon has aimed to enhance its grocery business, which has faced various challenges over the years.

Leadership Under Jason Buechel

Whole Foods CEO, Jason Buechel, who also serves as Amazon’s VP of Worldwide Grocery, has driven these integration efforts since his appointment earlier this year. He emphasizes creating a “One Grocery” mindset, an approach intended to unify both Whole Foods and Amazon’s grocery brands.

• 150 million customers currently served by Amazon’s grocery operations.
• Nearly 3 million grocery and everyday products available.
• Amazon’s everyday essentials experienced nearly double the growth of other product categories in the first half of 2025.

Improving Efficiency

In his role, Buechel has prioritized reducing internal bureaucracy. A recent consolidation of vendor-management teams is designed to eliminate inefficiencies caused by different supply chain strategies for various store types. The projected outcome of this adjustment could lead to an additional $94 million in profits over three years.

New Innovations and Strategies

Amazon has also launched an internal project, “Fusion”, which facilitates grocery product deliveries from both Fresh and Whole Foods stores. Additionally, a new store concept has been introduced that includes common household items, further merging the two brands.

Cultural Integration Challenges

Since the acquisition, employees have raised concerns about preserving Whole Foods’ distinct identity. Buechel aims to address these issues by using metaphors like “flying formation” to illustrate the importance of cohesion and collaboration within Amazon’s grocery segments. He has encouraged his teams to think strategically about working together effectively.

Growth and Future Directions

Amazon’s grocery and everyday goods division generated over $100 billion in gross merchandise sales in the past year. CEO Andy Jassy notes that online grocery customers tend to shop more frequently and have higher return rates compared to customers purchasing nonperishable items.

Jassy believes these shifting shopping behaviors are transforming the grocery landscape, illustrating the growing importance of online and integrated shopping experiences.