<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
           EXTRACTED FROM THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET 1999 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-26-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-17-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          28,418
<SECURITIES>                                    14,674
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     91,331
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               172,457
<PP&E>                                         319,957
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 562,436
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           92,165
<BONDS>                                        120,179
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       220,476
<OTHER-SE>                                      70,853
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   562,436
<SALES>                                        456,239
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               456,239
<CGS>                                          303,029
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  303,029
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               129,292
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,680
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 21,238
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,283
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             12,955
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,955
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47