Former Whole Foods Execs Open Restaurant

Love.Life (Austin, Texas) has opened a new restaurant in Culver City, Calif. Love.Life, featuring a 100 percent plant-based menu, was co-founded in 2020 by John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods; Walter Robb, former co-CEO of Whole Foods; and Betsy Foster, a former executive of the grocer. All three exited Whole Foods in the aftermath of its acquisition by Amazon in 2017.

“I have been passionate about healthy eating since the inception of Whole Foods and believe the food we eat is the most powerful choice we can make when it comes to health,” said Mackey, co-creator and CEO of Love.Life. “The portion of Love.Life’s menu that is dedicated to optimization is my personal favorite. Not only are these dishes super healthy and delicious – they also contain foods that promote longevity and have the potential to improve the health of people who suffer from chronic health conditions.”

Photography: Courtesy of Love.Life

“We want to create a different kind of plant-based restaurant that takes things a step further,” said Michael Robertson, President of Love.Life’s Southern Pacific Region. “We’re focused on health and are fully transparent, so customers know exactly what they are ordering.”

By scanning a QR code on the menu, guests can see the full nutrition profile, functional benefits and preparation methods for each dish, making it easy to order based on special diet, allergies, or personal preferences.

Other moves by the company include the acquisitions of a Miami-based restaurant, Love Life Cafe, and Plant Based TeleHealth, which offers lifestyle medical care virtually across the U.S. and internationally.