<ARTICLE>     5
<LEGEND>
           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
           EXTRACTED FROM THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET FISCAL 1997
           FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
           TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   US DOLLARS
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                 1  
<CASH>                                          13,395
<SECURITIES>                                     1,089
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,468
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     64,838
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               113,898
<PP&E>                                         327,483
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (99,268)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 399,678
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           77,272
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       192,514
<OTHER-SE>                                      12,951
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   399,678
<SALES>                                      1,117,346
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,117,346
<CGS>                                          749,551
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  749,551
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               322,383
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,044
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,368
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,724
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             26,644
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,644
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05