Whole Foods CEOs Apologize For Pricing Problems

But Whole Foods Market is increasing training at its stores in New York City and nationwide.

“Straight up, we made some mistakes, we own that.” said co-CEO Walter Robb said.

The high-end food purveyor also will use a third-party auditing system to ensure all its staffers are properly weighing items.

John Mackey, who is founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods, said, “These mistakes have to do with the things that we do in the store with mostly our fresh product, whether we’re making sandwiches, or we’re squeezing fresh juices or having cut fruit”.

“We know they are unintentional because the mistakes are both in the customer’s favor and sometimes not in the customer’s favor”, Robb said. Whole Foods recently announced that they will open a new chain that offers low prices on organic products.

Whole Foods said it would give any item in the fresh section for free if it is found to be overweighed. The comments ranged from some users accepting Whole Foods’ apology, while others blasting the company for their wrongdoing.

First, Whole Foods is going to retrain employees in New York stores and around the country.

Michael Sinatra, a spokesperson for the supermarket, told the Daily News that the store “never intentionally used deceptive practices to incorrectly charge customers”, and that customers can receive refunds for mislabeled or incorrectly charged items.

“Our inspectors tell me this is the worst case of mislabeling they have seen in their careers”, DCA commissioner Julie Menin said at the time.

Last year, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties – and improve pricing accuracy – after an investigation into alleged pricing irregularities in California. The fine for a the false labeling of single package is already at $950 for the initial violation, and can add up to $1,700 for further violations.