Thursday, June 07, 2007

Whole Foods, Wild Oats Merger

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced yesterday that it approved a complaint to block the merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats (which was founded in Boulder, CO).

From the press release:
"Whole Foods and Wild Oats are each other’s closest competitors in premium natural and organic supermarkets, and are engaged in intense head-to-head competition in markets across the country,” said Jeffrey Schmidt, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “If Whole Foods is allowed to devour Wild Oats, it will mean higher prices, reduced quality, and fewer choices for consumers.”

Whole Foods and Wild Oats are challenging this complaint and argue that the FTC should supermarket sector, not just the natural foods sector. Read more in the Denver Post's "FTC opposing Wild Oats, Whole Foods merger."

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