<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WHOLE
FOODS MARKET 2000 FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-24-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-16-2000
<CASH>                                           3,640
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   21,061
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     82,966
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               126,007
<PP&E>                                         421,729
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 696,539
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          129,656
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       198,330
<OTHER-SE>                                     111,485
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   696,539
<SALES>                                        552,560
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               552,560
<CGS>                                          364,550
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  364,550
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               164,070
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,540
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,568
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             11,832
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                          375
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,457
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.43