Company of the week: 10 things you never knew about Whole Foods

Love it or hate it, you can't deny that the Whole Foods brand has completely changed the grocery shopping scene (especially amongst millennials). They've even recently announced that tattoo parlors may be part of their new chain of stores, so you can get inked before you grab your quinoa.

The cult-like mega-chain has become that way for good reason. We attribute it to the store's unique company policies, dedication to providing the best and most fresh (even though that means, at times, expensive) products and CEOs who (quite literally) know the ins and outs of their stores.

SEE ALSO: The CEO of Whole Foods says he never hires people who display this personality trait

Here are 10 facts about the organic grocery giant that we're willing to bet you didn't know:

1. The company's co-CEO and co-founder, John Mackey, has been working for $1 a year since 2007. Yes, ONE DOLLAR. He doesn't receive any bonuses or stock options either.

2. Mackey also lived at Whole Foods' flagship location (Austin, TX) when it opened after he and co-founder Rene Lawson were evicted from their apartment. Talk about really getting comfortable with your business locations!

3. On Memorial Day, 1981 that flagship store lost its entire inventory due to flooding. The store suffered $40,000 in losses!

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4. These days, that same flagship store seems to be doing quite fine—you can find an ice skating rink on top of the building.

5. Most Whole Foods locations have adopted a "no heroes policy," meaning that employees are forbidden from trying to stop shoplifters.

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6. Up until 2013, employees were only allowed to speak English, per company policy.

7. Also per company policy, every employee can see what every other employee makes. The company operates under a "no secrets" management in which the annual salary of every employee is made available for anyone who works within the company to see.

8. All employees receive a 20 percent discount. However, in some locations, employees must undergo screening for BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and even nicotine (it is Whole Foods, after all) and depending on how well they fare, they can get their discount raised to as high as 30 percent.

Key information about Whole Foods Market Inc. :

9. Speaking of nicotine, a Whole Foods location in Dallas, TX used to sell American Spirit cigarettes back in 1986.

10. Whole Foods has made Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies To Work For" for 17 consecutive years. Not a surprise.

Take a look at customers shopping at different Whole Foods around the world

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