Whole Foods Agrees to Acquire Greenlife Grocery

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here said it plans to acquire the assets of Greenlife Grocery, a two-store operator with stores in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Asheville, N.C. The transaction, for an undisclosed sum, is expected to close within the next two weeks, the companies said.

"The customers and team members who define the Greenlife culture have created a truly special natural, organic and local food community," said Scott Allshouse, president of Whole Foods' South region. "We believe Whole Foods' presence in the Southeast and our culture as a company will be enriched by this deal with Greenlife."

Chuck Pruett, who founded Greenlife in Chattanooga in mid-1999, said a deal with Whole Foods makes sense "at this time in our company's life cycle. Joining with Whole Foods will open up even more opportunities for our customers to shop for the best and widest variety of the foods they value; expand opportunities for local producers to sell their products; and [enable] team members to gain more opportunities to expand their food horizons and careers."

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