Whole Foods, FTC agree on Wild Oats settlement

Posted: 03.06.2009 at 12:16 PM

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Whole Foods Market says it will sell 13 stores to resolve the Federal Trade Commission's challenge against the grocer over its purchase of Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets.

Whole Foods said Friday it is putting 12 Wild Oats stores and one Whole Foods store up for sale. The company will also sell leases and assets for 19 Wild Oats stores that have already been closed.

The stores and assets to be sold are located in Colorado and 11 other states.

Federal regulators have challenged Whole Foods' 2007 acquisition of Wild Oats over competitive issues.

Whole Foods Chief Executive John Mackey says it will be "business as usual" in the 13 stores that are still operating. Whole Foods expects final approval from the FTC by April 30.

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Here is a list of stores and assets to be sold by Whole Foods Market Inc. to resolve a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission.

They are located in Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

13 operating stores offered for sale:

--7133 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, Ariz.

--8688 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, Ariz.

--2584 Baseline Road, Boulder, Colo.

--1651 Broadway St., Boulder, Colo.

--3180 New Center Point, Colorado Springs, Colo.

--5910 S. University Blvd., Littleton, Colo.

--9229 N Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, Colo.

--340 N. Main St., West Hartford, Conn.

--4301 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.

--1090 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, N.M.

--7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev.

--19440 N.W. Cornell Road, Hillsboro, Ore.

--6930 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah

19 closed Wild Oats stores offered for sale:

--5350 W. Bell Road, Glendale, Ariz.

--1422 N. Cooper Road, Gilbert, Ariz.

--874 E. Warner Road, Gilbert, Ariz.

--9028 W. Union Hills, Peoria, Ariz.

--13823 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, Ariz.

--15569 W. Bell Road, Surprise, Ariz.

--200 W. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins, Colo.

--8194 S. Kipling Parkway, Littleton, Colo.

--6424 Naples Blvd., Naples, Fla.

--4600 Shelbyville Road, St. Matthews, Ky.

--87 Marginal Way, Portland, Maine

--8819-8833 Ladue Road, St. Louis, Mo.

--7831 Dodge St., Omaha, Neb.

--517 N. Stephanie St., Henderson, Nev.

--4879 S. Virginia St., Reno, Nev.

--5695 S. Virginia St., Reno, Nev.

--2077 N.E. Burnside St., Portland, Ore.

--17711 Jean Way, Lake Oswego, Ore.

--3736 W. Center Park Drive, West Jordan, Utah

On the Net:

Whole Foods Market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov