Publications
Publications
- February 2018
- HBS Case Collection
Whole Foods and JANA Partners
By: Suraj Srinivasan and Quinn Pitcher
Abstract
In 2017, JANA Partners decided to launch an activist campaign at struggling supermarket chain Whole Foods Market. The company had struggled for the past several years, and JANA thought the presence of new directors could help turn around its operations, while Whole Foods resisted, adding new directors and announcing ambitious new financial targets. Facing continued pressure from JANA despite the new changes, Whole Foods accepted an acquisition offer from Amazon, ending the engagement with JANA.
Keywords
Corporate Governance; Information Technology; Institutional Investing; Investment Activism; United States
Citation
Srinivasan, Suraj, and Quinn Pitcher. "Whole Foods and JANA Partners." Harvard Business School Case 118-076, February 2018.