Naturally, Whole Foods Wins
I’m surfacing from my self-imposed Internet vow-of-silence to take note that a judge has ruled in Whole Foods favor (WSJ $) and allowed its acquisition of Wild Oats to proceed. On its face, this supports the position that I’ve articulated before — that Whole Foods does indeed face competition from others besides Wild Oats and that the merger does little to alter that reality.
The organic, natural food, and grocery market is fast-changing and to think anyone has a hammer lock on consumer choice when it comes to this food is myopic. The competitive advantage presented by Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores does not mean shoppers have no other choices. Indeed, I wonder how others will now respond to this merger, if it goes ahead. I doubt they will sit still or give up on organics.
I would also note that the FTC, in an improperly redacted court filing, actually presented […]
Original post by Samuel Fromartz and software by Elliott Back
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