AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here yesterday said the acquisition of Wild Oats Markets last year reduced net income for its fiscal first quarter by about $11.9 million. Net income for the 16-week span, which ended Jan. 20, was $39.14 million, vs. $53.76 million in the year-ago span. Sales increased about 31.3%, to $2.46 billion. Comparable-store sales rose 9.3% for the quarter, excluding Wild Oats. “Wild Oats was a highly centralized company, and we have taken a cautious approach to ‘unplugging’ the stores from the home office in Boulder [Colo.],” said John Mackey, chairman and chief executive officer, in a prepared release.

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