Whole Foods Hires a Head Chef

Whole Foods Market last week hired hotel- and restaurant-industry veteran Tien Ho to the newly created position of global vice president of culinary and hospitality, effective January 2016.“Having worked among some of the most recognized chefs and hotel brands in the world, [Ho] is an innovative leader in the culinary and hospitality industries,” Whole Foods executive vice president of operations Ken Meyer said in a media release. “As the Whole Foods Market brand continues to evolve and differentiate itself from competitors, we recognize the importance of this role and could not be more pleased to welcome [Ho], who will help us elevate the way Whole Foods Market [shoppers] experience our food.”Ho will helm the prepared foods and bakery team at the retailer's Austin, TX, headquarters. He most recently served as corporate executive chef of Morgans Hotel Group, where he was hired in 2014 to manage the culinary departments of the company's 10 hotel brands. His job included building partnerships with celebrity chefs, designing hotel kitchens and recruiting for all culinary positions. He has also held chef and partner positions at restaurants in New York and Texas.“Having lived in Austin previously, I have long admired how Whole Foods Market set itself apart from conventional grocery stores by offering the best quality products, shopping experience and really enjoyable in-store dining experiences,” Ho said in the release. “Whole Foods Market makes grocery shopping fun, and my mission is to further extend the wonderfully unique things people love about Whole Foods Market through the foods we create, the items we bake, and the experience our customers have when they purchase and consume them.”Ho holds a bachelor's degree in history and philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. New York magazine named him best new chef in 2011 for his work at the city's Ma Peche restaurant.Whole Foods views its prepared foods and bakery departments as a major differentiator from its competition and those offerings accounted for 19% of the retailer's sales in 2014, or $2.7 billion. New openings have expanded the retailer's prepared foods options to include sit-down restaurants and bars, sometimes serving beer made in house.

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