WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  




                                  Exhibit 27.1


<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
           EXTRACTED FROM THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET FISCAL 1998
           FORM 10-K 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-START>                             SEP-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1  
<CASH>                                          36,674
<SECURITIES>                                    27,019
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,201
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     85,628
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               184,093
<PP&E>                                         429,122
<DEPRECIATION>                                (137,644)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 544,808
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           91,029
<BONDS>                                        118,361
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       219,189
<OTHER-SE>                                      58,084
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   544,808
<SALES>                                      1,389,768
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,389,768
<CGS>                                          921,104
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  921,104
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               388,923
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,685
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 72,056
<INCOME-TAX>                                    26,661
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             45,395
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,395
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.64