Whole Foods Ranks No. 19 on Fortune’s 'Most Admired' List

Whole Foods Market took the No. 19 spot on Fortune magazine's 2013 "World's Most Admired Companies" list. The only grocer on the list, Whole Foods is also named the Most Admired Company in the food and drug store industry, leading the top 10 list of retailers in the category.

"The health-food pioneer continues to rack up record sales, and has plans to nearly triple U.S. its store count," reported the magazine, noting that the grocer "earns high marks from customers (and analysts) for quality that keeps its patrons loyal.”

Whole Foods is ranked in the top ten for innovation, social responsibility, employee retention and product quality. The only company from Austin to make the list, Whole Foods Market is one of three Texas-based companies included in the top 50 this year.

The list, related stories and methodology appear in the March issue of Fortune, available on newsstands now.