USA: Whole Foods Market to resolve FTC charges

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Whole Foods Market to resolve the agency's charges. Whole Foods' acquisition of Wild Oats Markets had been said to have violated federal antitrust laws. Under a proposed consent order, Whole Foods would sell 32 premium natural and organic supermarkets and related assets in 17 geographic markets. American consumers would as a result see more choices and lower prices for organic foods, according to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. He continued that the settlement allowed the FTC to shift resources to other important matters and Whole Foods to move on with its business, reports Trade Regulation Talk.

The 32 former Wild Oats stores that Whole Foods would have to divest include 13 currently-operating and 19 formerly-operating stores. These stores represent a large portion of the Wild Oats stores that Whole Foods had acquired and is currently operating, as well as all of the formerly operating Wild Oats stores for which leases still exist. In addition, the settlement also would require Whole Foods to divest related Wild Oats intellectual property, including rights to the Wild Oats brand, which retained significant recognition and loyalty among consumers, according to the FTC. The proposed order would immediately place the responsibility for marketing and selling the stores with a trustee, who would have six months to sell the Wild Oats stores and related assets. The proposed agreement will be subject to public comment through April 6. Then the Commission will decide whether to make it final.
 

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