Whole Foods Market in Norway
Organizing for International Business Activities
I. Selecting a Global Company Structure Whole Market Foods (here by called the company) is a domestic company headquartered in Austin, Texas, United States operating 284 stores in the United States and 11 internationally as of September, 2009 (Annual Stakeholders Report 2009). The company is operating through subsidiaries (here by called stores) domestically and internationally and are wholly owned by the company. Local stores domestically and internationally administer operations and values chains set by headquarters. With stores operating actively within the United Kingdom and Canada, a similar approach will be used towards its expansion into Bergen, Norway. As an international company, Whole Market Foods retains overarching control of its stores. A board of directors is elected by the shareholders to oversee the management of the company, its financial business and is responsible for monitoring management 's operation of the company 's business, overseeing the company 's business strategy, and monitoring risks and the Company 's control systems. Of this current ten member board, they are also chartered to oversee the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is commissioned to manage and set strategy for Whole Market Foods. The headquarters relies on management from each store to report income figures, supply restock for both equipment and products, and human resource information pertaining to the specific location. The stores belong to the only operating segment of the company which is its natural and organic foods supermarkets. Each store is supported by 12 regional offices and the Austin headquarters, regional distribution centers, bake house facilities, commissary kitchens, seafood-processing facilities, meat and produce procurement centers, and a specialty coffee, tea procurement and brewing operation to ensure that products are supplied to the store accurately and within the requested delivery date.
I. Selecting a Global Company Structure Whole Market Foods (here by called the company) is a domestic company headquartered in Austin, Texas, United States operating 284 stores in the United States and 11 internationally as of September, 2009 (Annual Stakeholders Report 2009). The company is operating through subsidiaries (here by called stores) domestically and internationally and are wholly owned by the company. Local stores domestically and internationally administer operations and values chains set by headquarters. With stores operating actively within the United Kingdom and Canada, a similar approach will be used towards its expansion into Bergen, Norway. As an international company, Whole Market Foods retains overarching control of its stores. A board of directors is elected by the shareholders to oversee the management of the company, its financial business and is responsible for monitoring management 's operation of the company 's business, overseeing the company 's business strategy, and monitoring risks and the Company 's control systems. Of this current ten member board, they are also chartered to oversee the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is commissioned to manage and set strategy for Whole Market Foods. The headquarters relies on management from each store to report income figures, supply restock for both equipment and products, and human resource information pertaining to the specific location. The stores belong to the only operating segment of the company which is its natural and organic foods supermarkets. Each store is supported by 12 regional offices and the Austin headquarters, regional distribution centers, bake house facilities, commissary kitchens, seafood-processing facilities, meat and produce procurement centers, and a specialty coffee, tea procurement and brewing operation to ensure that products are supplied to the store accurately and within the requested delivery date.