<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
          THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM
          THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET  FIRST  QUARTER 1998 FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED
          IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>      0000865436
<NAME>     WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                                 US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-27-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-18-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           4,569
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,994
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     73,690
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               125,610
<PP&E>                                         327,483
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (10,662)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 438,225
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           91,953
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       201,997
<OTHER-SE>                                      24,323
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   438,225
<SALES>                                        407,788
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               407,788
<CGS>                                          272,036
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  272,036
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               114,662
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,998
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,092
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,064
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             12,028
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,028
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.44