Warren Buffett Turned Down the Chance to Buy Whole Foods in 2017, CEO John Mackey Says Posted byTheron Mohamed October 5, 2020 Leave a comment on Warren Buffett Turned Down the Chance to Buy Whole Foods in 2017, CEO John Mackey Says Whole Foods CEO and cofounder John Mackey and his team approached Buffett about a buyout, but the billionaire investor and head of Berkshire Hathaway said it wouldn’t be a good fit.