SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OFTHE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 8, 2010

 


 

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Texas

 

0-19797

 

74-1989366

(State of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File
Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

 

550 Bowie Street

Austin, Texas 78703

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (512) 477-4455

 

Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the reporting obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the Exchange Act

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) Exchange Act

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) Exchange Act

 

 

 



 

Item 5.07.              Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

The Company convened its annual meeting of shareholders on March 8, 2010 pursuant to notice duly given.  The matters voted upon at the meeting and the results of such voting are set forth below:

 

1.             To elect ten directors of the Company.

 

NAME

 

FOR

 

WITHHELD

 

BROKER
NON-VOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. John B. Elstrott

 

114,707,591

 

2,841,574

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabrielle E. Greene

 

115,147,260

 

2,401,905

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hass Hassan

 

114,968,547

 

2,580,568

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Kugelman

 

113,154,783

 

4,394,382

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Mackey

 

112,048,104

 

5,501,061

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan A. Seiffer

 

85,899,250

 

31,649,915

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morris J. Siegel

 

115,155,983

 

2,393,182

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan D. Sokoloff

 

87,832,982

 

29,716,183

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ralph Z. Sorenson

 

109,808,584

 

7,740,581

 

28,937,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W.A. (Kip) Tindell, III

 

113,097,514

 

4,451,651

 

28,937,267

 

 

All director nominees were duly elected.

 

2.             Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young, LLP as independent public accountants for fiscal year 2010.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BNV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

145,297,487

 

960,836

 

228,109

 

0

 

 

The Motion was ratified.

 

3.                                       Expanding the requirement for majority voting standards.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BNV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

67,865,440

 

49,385,477

 

298,147

 

28,937,368

 

 

The Motion was ratified.

 

2



 

4.             Amending the Company’s by-laws to permit removal of a director without cause

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BNV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61,961,640

 

54,162,342

 

1,425,083

 

28,937,367

 

 

The Motion was ratified.

 

5.             Establishing a board of directors’ policy concerning an engagement process with proponents of shareholder proposals that are supported by a majority of the votes cast.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BNV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44,224,211

 

71,636,242

 

1,688,712

 

28,937,267

 

 

The proposal was rejected.

 

6.                                       Requesting that the board of directors amend the Company’s corporate governance principles to adopt and disclose a written and detailed succession planning policy.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BNV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,207,241

 

82,195,235

 

1,146,588

 

28,937,368

 

 

The proposal was rejected.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 8, 2010

By:

/s/ Glenda Chamberlain

 

 

Glenda Chamberlain

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

3