SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 11, 2004

                            WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Texas                        0-19797                      74-1989366
  (State of                  (Commission File                (IRS Employer
incorporation)                   Number)                 Identification Number)

                          601 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 300
                               Austin, Texas 78703
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (512) 477-5566

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:

[_]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the Exchange Act

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) Exchange Act

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) Exchange Act



Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers;  Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officers.

(c) At a meeting  held on  October  7,  2004,  Mark  Dixon  was  named  Regional
President of the Company's new Southwest  region.  We announced this appointment
in our press release dated October 11, 2004.

        Set forth below is biographical information regarding Mr. Dixon:

Mark Dixon has served as Regional Vice President of the former  Southwest Region
since July 2002.  Mr. Dixon has held various  positions  with the Company  since
1984 including team leader,  Associate Store Team Leader, Store Team Leader, and
Metro Store Team Leader.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October  11,  2004,  we issued a press  release  regarding  the  developments
described  in Item  5.02(c)  above.  A copy of the press  release  is  furnished
herewith as Exhibit 99.1.


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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits.

            Exhibit 99.1-- Press release, dated October 11, 2004

      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: October 11, 2004                By: /s/ Glenda Flanagan.
                                          --------------------
                                          Glenda Flanagan
                                          Executive Vice President and
                                          Chief Financial Officer


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