UPDATED: Whole Foods Market & The Sociopathic Business Model™
UPDATED: June 25, 2015: Whole Foods accused of massive overcharging (below the original story)
Updated: November 17, 2014 (below)
November 15, 2014
Uncovering the whole story on Whole Foods Market: Case Study
John Mackey, Co-CEO of Whole Foods, and Marc Gafni on ‘The Unique Self of Business’
Earlier this week this site called for a boycott on Whole Foods Market until they cut financial ties with known child rapist Marc Gafni and his organizations Success 3.0 Summit and Center of Integral Wisdom (CIW). Whole Foods Market was the Premium donor at the most recent Success 3.0 Summit held in Colorado.
That may prove to be more difficult for Co-Ceo of Whole Foods Market, John Mackey as he and Gafni and are both part of the leadership of Success 3.0 Summit as well as on the Executive Board of Directors at Center for Integral Wisdom who presents the Summit.
It appears that Mackey and Gafni are board buddies. So the next time consumers decide to buy one of the top ten items at Whole Foods Market know that it’s going to support a rapist.
1) 365 Everyday Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% Mediterranean Blend
2) 365 Everyday Value Organic Whole Milk
3) 365 Everyday Value Organic Wild Blueberries
4) 365 Everyday Value Organic Grade AA Unsalted Butter
5) 365 Everyday Value Organic Grade B 100% Maple Syrup
6) 365 Everyday Value Organic 2% Reduced Fat Milk
7) 365 Everyday Value Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
8) 365 Everyday Value Grade AA Unsalted Butter
9) Whole Foods Market Italian Sparkling Mineral Water
10) Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Fillets
Mackey famously announced in 2007 he was only going to take $1 salary and make everyone’s paychecks within the organiztion public. And he doesn’t take any bonuses, stock awards or options awards, either! What a guy!
“I have reached a place in my life where I no longer want to work for money,” he wrote in a letter to employees in 2007. “The tremendous success of Whole Foods Market has provide me with far more money than I ever dreamed I’d have and far more than is necessary for either my financial security or personal happiness.”
But what about the money that Whole Foods Market donates to a program like Success 3.o Summit and did that money first go through the parent company in Europe Center for Integral Wisdom (CIW) perhaps for a tax break? What if Mackey isn’t taking a paycheck but he’s still getting paid? If that’s the case, well then, that would be inconsistent & contradictory language to action.
We’ve certainly seen this happen in other industries like medical device who create and fund healthcare advocacy groups that in turn create “Summit’s or Forums” which mask where the money is coming from. It would certainly explain why the Success 3.0 Summit is invitation only; and let’s just say these guests don’t usually have trouble believing their own hype so it makes them very easy pawns in a much bigger game.
And it appears that Marc Gafni, child rapist, former rabbi, and board buddy to Co-Ceo of Whole Foods Market, John Mackey, has decided to add a doctorate in philosophy from from Oxford University, England to his title, as he know goes by Dr. Marc Gafni. Except there isn’t an Oxford University in England-it’s University of Oxford, Oxford, England. Well, that’s certainly inconsistent & contradictory language to action.
He holds a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University
He earned his doctorate from Oxford University in England…
I’ve reached out to University of Oxford for verification of Gafni’s doctorate as there is no Oxford University. As with all Case Studies this one is still evolving.
UPDATED: 11/17/2014
Response from University of Oxford indicates handwritten signed consent from the student in question is necessary as part of their Data Protection. Well that certainly works on in someone’s favor.
Please join: BOYCOTT Whole Foods for Financially Supporting Child Rapist and please share on social media to help spread the word and force accountability from Whole Foods.
June 25, 2015 UPDATED
Whole Foods Market Services is aware (again) and refuses to comment.
The latest Whole Foods news of massively overcharging their customers shouldn’t come as a surprise to frequent readers of this site as its been demonstrated they have a pathological history of failing to recognize the rights of others while manipulating the facts. True to The Sociopathic Business Model™ form all accomplices (consumers, employees & taxpayer) eventually become victims (overcharged consumers). Again there are different levels of victimization but that does not mean any one victim should be dismissed.
That’s according to the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, which says it has uncovered “systematic overcharging for pre-packaged foods” at the city’s Whole Foods stores.
“Our inspectors tell me this is the worst case of mislabeling they have seen in their careers,” said Julie Menin, the department’s commissioner.
New York officials said that its investigation of 80 different types of pre-packaged products found none had correct weights, and that that 89% of packages violated federal rules for how much a package can deviate from actual weight.
The overcharges ranged from 80 cents for a package of pecan panko to $14.84 for a package of coconut shrimp. Among the other findings:• Vegetable platters priced at $20 per package were overpriced by $2.50 on average. One package was overpriced by $6.15.
• Chicken tenders were overpriced by an average $4.13 a package.
• Packages of berries, going for $8.58, were overpriced, on average, by $1.15 a package. CNN Money
If you needed more reason to boycott Whole Foods, there it is!
Ash Girl
Very dissappointed in Whole Foods, I shop there and own its stock. How could John Mackey, a seemingly savvy individual, fall under the influence of this unsavory character, whose own website is his own worst condemnation, it is so bloated with hubris and hyperinflation. “Rabbinical lineage holder in Bible, Talmud and Kabbalah” – what does it even mean? As a descendant of a prominent rabbinical lineage myself, I’m perplexed.
Melayna Lokosky
Mackey is also of questionable ethical character since he was caught anonymously internet trolling Wild Oates trying to manipulate their stock to his advantage.
Gafni’s website also offers a Bill Cosby type approach to victim shaming and stating that if you’ve read anything bad about him, it’s not true then provides the equivalent of a note from his mom (Board members) defending his actions. And that he couldn’t get negative stories taken down. Really? He’s on Boards with the Co-Ceo of Whole Foods and can’t get an attorney to take down negative comments?” Oh that’s right, it’s because it’s the truth.
I’m also confused by the grandiose use of nonsensical titles but those are usually devised as a means of manipulation and used to distract for the lack of any real ability. Supporting Whole Foods is putting money right into this guy’s pocket which is really sad. If a big news outlet got a hold of this story (especially this close to Thanksgiving) it really could force accountability from the Whole Foods Board to put pressure on Mackey to cut ties with Gafni. Or Whole Foods could remove Mackey entirely.
crow
Gafni goes from one con to the next – this whole idea of spirituality and the corporate world is just his latest effort to try desperately to make a name for himself. He has gone through Orthodox Judaism, Reformed Judaism and various forms of New Age type spirituality, most notably, trying to affiliate himself with Ken Wilbur of Integral Theory. He is always eventually exposed and he then relocates and starts up again from a new angle. He is a sociopath and has absolutely no conscience about his behavior or any of the people he has hurt over the years. He will do anything for attention. He craves an audience. He likes to talk with a hand held microphone even when it’s unnecessary because he fancies himself a stand-up comedian. More than anything he wants a cult following but he really has nothing offer. He only has a handful of actual followers.
His biography says he is the father of four children – doesn’t that sound cozy? What it doesn’t say is that they are from 3 different mothers. He abandoned the first child completely and has never had a relationship with her. He walked off from his 2 sons when they were still young, and cheated on his “committed relationship” partner when she was pregnant with his last child. The guy is nothing but a scummy con man.
His list of titles and accomplishments are misleading – they sound good but have little substance. He is always starting some new project; he has other people do all the work and none of them ever last. I’ve followed this guys retreat from place to place for years now. Would really like to see this guy exposed for good.
Melayna Lokosky
WOW! Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. It certainly sounds like you are quite familiar with the situation; and, if you are, I’m sorry that you’ve encountered someone like this in your life.
You’ve also helped confirm a theory about men who have children with two women about 70-80% (not withstanding the first wife dies (of natural causes) are sociopaths. If still married to the first wife and gets second woman pregnant-that number increases to over 90%. A man who has children with three or more women-100% sociopath; and, in the interest of any information is good information –it’s up to each person reading to decide what’s applicable to their lives.
I cannot understand why anyone familiar with the facts around Gafni would choose to engage in any type of business relationship with him, especially someone so established as Mackey from Whole Foods. I also like to see fraud exposed and hope this story gets some traction with big news outlets. If more people knew they could force accountability from Whole Foods to cut ties with him.
Sadly people like this do leave a trail of victims including spouses and children while effortlessly moving on to their next victim. Again, thank you for reading and offering either greater insight into Garfi’s ever changing business model.
Bella
The proper term is “Reform Judaism.” Just saying. (There is a Reformed Church in Christianity, but the term for the movement in Judaism is “Reform.”)
Jason
There’s lots more on Gafni’s loooooooong and sordid history of abuse and predatory behavior at these links (among others; just google GAFNI ABUSE):
http://integral-options.blogspot.com/2011/09/breaking-marc-gafnis-sexual-impropriety.html
http://zeek.forward.com/articles/117387/
http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2006/06/deposition-of-mordecai-gafnis-third.html
https://www.integrallife.com/member/john-dupuy/blog/my-opinion-marc-gafni-situation
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2008/07/hes-back-serial.html
http://thebabarazzi.com/2013/04/22/holy-shit-john-friend-needs-a-new-public-relations-agent/
Be sure to read the comments; they fill in a lot of key information.
I knew him well back in the day and he hasn’t changed a bit. He is definitely a sociopath who has charmed and fooled and ultimately betrayed many otherwise very smart people (like John Mackey). But his supporters and sycophants all eventually wake up to the horrible truth of his darkness and complete lack of integrity; he’s been thrown out of the Jewish world, was chased out of Israel by the police, was dumped by his publisher Sounds True, was kicked out of the Integral world…the list goes on and on and on. His entire life is one scandal after another.
A Whole Foods boycott won’t work (John Mackey’s involvement with Gafni is totally independent of Whole Foods), but it’s important to at least let as many people as possible know the dark side of this disturbing character, and to warn potential victims to stay far far away. So thank you for these posts!
Melayna Lokosky
Hi Jason-Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Also thanks for the additional links- a few of the listed are referenced between the two articles* and I’ll go back and read the others (plus the comments). *https://www.killingmycareer.com/the-sociopathic-business-model/boycott-whole-foods-until-they-cut-financial-ties-with-child-rapist/
I’d have to disagree with you though regarding John Mackey’s involvement from Gafni as separate from Whole Foods, as Whole Foods was the Premium Sponsor at the recent Success 3.0 Summit-that’s pretty much the definition of Mackey using his Whole Foods influence to support a Gafni created event.
The goal of forced accountability is create enough pressure by using the truth others would rather remain hidden to hurt the company image and in turn profits-all by exposing the truth. The more people exposed to the truth willing to put pressure on Whole Foods by taking their business elsewhere would in turn hurt their image/profits where change (cutting-ties with Gafni) would be necessary. (Bill Cosby and Netflix, NBC, etc cutting ties as a result of recent charges is a great example).
As Mackey has publically stated he only takes $1 annual salary it would be interesting to understand if Success 3.0 Summit or CIW are non-profits and if Whole Foods “donated” to the event or if Whole Foods had to “pay” to be the Premium sponsor at the event. And Gafni and Mackey are board memebers on both Success 3.0 Summit & CIW-are these board memebers paid? How are they paid? A lot of unknowns and there is much more to this story but what is known is that Whole Foods is linked to a rapist by sponsoring the Success 3.0 Summit. Thank you again for reading and providing additional information for readers-Melayna
crow
As for his Doctorate from Oxford…
This has come up before, too. His time at Oxford was much like his time at other places – assistants do the work and Gafni puts his name to it. This is one of the many times he will be accused of plagiarism. He did receive a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford. There is a difference between a Ph.D in the United States and a D.Phil from Oxford. Something like the rank of Captain occurs in both the Army and Navy but they have different status and requirements to reach the corresponding level of responsibility. Gafni would claim the Ph.D title and had twice been notified by Oxford to stop doing so. He finally did and now puts D.Phil after his name and likes to be referred to as “Doctor”. I suppose it is technically correct, but most people whose titles are mostly honorary are not so pretentious.
Melayna Lokosky
Thank you for clarifying. And yes people who are non-medical should only use the title in academic settings and I’d think if I attended a school I’d be sure and note it properly. I’ve not seen any notations with D.Phil in any articles although on his CIW site it was noted as Dr. Phil (which was confusing and yet comical). But it’s all about the image and what the image can attract in this situation.
Pastor Jim
The kimono keeps slipping on Whole Foods: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/08/my_whole_foods_nightmare_how_a_full_time_job_there_left_me_in_poverty/
Melayna Lokosky
Thank you for sharing-I hadn’t seen that story yet. It’s nice to see employees band together to force accountability (or try to) from Whole Foods. Mackey is clearly out for Mackey and sheltering his money and views his employees & consumers as nothing more than accomplices until of course they become victims. It’s shameful that Whole Foods marketing campaigns highlighting “natural” and “family” have been more successful than the truth. Now the customers need to get behind the employees and boycott until there’s positive change for employee salary and they cut ties with child rapist Marc Gafni. Image tied to profits will create change if the truth hurts both badly enough. As always thank you for reading, commenting and educating-it’s greatly appreciated.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a41bc804-dfe6-11e2-bf9d-00144feab7de.html#axzz3LPeJ3NeD
Sandy Armus
Marc Gafni has no moral compass. I will no longer be shopping at Whole Foods. If the CEO thinks anything this person has to say is of any value then perhaps he should look inside himself and check his moral compass. Too bad he didn’t do that before associating with Mr. Gafni.