SEC Contract Filing

Filing Date: 2016-11-02

Document Content:
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<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>exh_101.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10.1
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<P STYLE="margin: 0; text-align: right">EXHIBIT 10.1</P>

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<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0">Separation, Advisory,
AND NONCOMPETition Agreement</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">THIS SEPARATION, ADVISORY, AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (this &ldquo;<U>Agreement</U>&rdquo;),
dated as of November&nbsp;2, 2016, is entered into by and between Whole Foods Market, Inc., a Texas corporation (the &ldquo;<U>Company</U>&rdquo;),
and Walter E. Robb, IV (&ldquo;<U>Robb</U>&rdquo;).</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">WHEREAS, Robb currently serves as (a)&nbsp;Co-Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and will continue to do so through December&nbsp;31, 2016 (the &ldquo;<U>Resignation Date</U>&rdquo;), and (b)&nbsp;a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the &ldquo;<U>Board</U>&rdquo;);</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">WHEREAS, Robb has invaluable knowledge and expertise regarding the
business of the Company;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">WHEREAS, due to Robb&rsquo;s knowledge and expertise, the Company
wishes to have the cooperation of, and access to, Robb following the Resignation Date;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">WHEREAS, the Company and Robb now desire to enter into a mutually
satisfactory arrangement concerning, among other things, Robb&rsquo;s separation from service with the Company on the Resignation
Date, and service to the Company as an independent contractor advisor following the Resignation Date, and other matters related
thereto; and</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">WHEREAS, simultaneously herewith, the Company and Robb are entering
into an amendment to the Whole Foods Executive Retention Plan and Non-Compete Arrangement Agreement, dated as of May&nbsp;16, 2012
(as amended, the &ldquo;<U>Plan Agreement</U>&rdquo;), by and between Whole Foods Market Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(&ldquo;<U>WFM Services</U>&rdquo;), and Robb.</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the Company and Robb hereby agree as follows:</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="color: #010000">1.<FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT></FONT><U>Separation from Service</U>.</P>

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<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="color: #010000">(a)<FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT></FONT><U>Resignation</U>. The Company and Robb hereby agree that Robb&rsquo;s employment with the Company shall terminate
as a result of Robb&rsquo;s resignation on the Resignation Date (the &ldquo;<U>Resignation</U>&rdquo;). The Resignation Date shall
be deemed to be the date of Robb&rsquo;s &ldquo;separation from service&rdquo; for purposes of Section&nbsp;409A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &ldquo;<U>Code</U>&rdquo;), and the date that Robb&rsquo;s employment ends for purposes of
the Plan Agreement and any applicable plans or programs of the Company and its affiliates. Robb further acknowledges that, effective
on the Resignation Date and by virtue of executing this Agreement, and without any further action by Robb, Robb hereby resigns
Robb&rsquo;s position as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as an employee, director, manager, or officer of, or any
other position with, the Company or any of its affiliates; <U>provided</U>, <U>however</U>, that Robb is not resigning, and shall
not be deemed to have resigned, from the Company&rsquo;s Board or any charitable foundations supported by the Company under this
Section&nbsp;1(a).</P>

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<P STYLE="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="color: #010000">(b)<FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT></FONT><U>Acknowledgments</U>. The Company and Robb acknowledge and agree that for purposes of all employee benefit plans,
agreements, policies, and arrangements of the Company and its affiliates in which Robb participated or to which Robb was a party
(including, without limitation, the Pl