FTC Complaint Quotes Whole Foods CEO

MARK HAMSTRA

WASHINGTON — Much of the Federal Trade Commission’s recommendation against the planned merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats revolves around statements made by John Mackey, chairman and chief executive officer of Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market, according to the FTC’s complaint, which was made public Friday. Although many of Mackey’s statements have been redacted from the complaint, the FTC seems to rely heavily on Mackey’s own words in arguing its case that Whole Foods and Wild Oats compete more against each other than they do other retailers. “When Whole Foods or Wild Oats expects the other to enter one of its markets, each plans substantial improvements in quality, including renovations, expansions and competitive pricing,” the complaint states, and then supports that assertion with a redacted quote from Mackey about the chain’s entry into Nashville, Tenn. “Neither company responds in the same way to competition from conventional supermarkets or other retailers,” the FTC stated.

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