The FTC Hates Whole Foods
The confusing sign outside the grocery store at 43rd and Main says it’s a Wild Oats but it’s actually a Whole Foods. But if the Federal Trade Commission gets its way, it could be a Wild Oats again after all.
After years of legal wrangling over antitrust allegations, Whole Foods was allowed to buy out its biggest competitor, Wild Oats, in 2007. After millions were spent merging the two chains over these past two years, the FTC is now trying to halt the merger.
To recap: The two companies completely merge. The FTC sues to halt already completed merger. One Whole Foods’ lawyer compared it to trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Another lawyer said it was like trying to unscramble eggs. But wait, it gets even more nonsensical:
