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  • From: "TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] FTC OPPOSES WHOLE FOODS' BID TO SEE DATA
  • Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:25:15 -0600


FTC OPPOSES WHOLE FOODS' BID TO SEE DATA
By Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4910503.html
June 21, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas --- Government lawyers are trying to block Whole Foods Market
Inc. from gaining more access to financial information about other
retailers in an antitrust lawsuit against the natural and organic food
chain. Lawyers for the Federal Trade Commission said their ability to
enforce antitrust laws would be harmed by letting Whole Foods see the
information on competitors.

The FTC this month sued to block Whole Foods from buying a smaller rival,
Wild Oats Markets Inc., saying the $565 million deal would give Whole Foods
too much control over the natural and organic food market.

FTC lawyers said that in building their case against Whole Foods, they
talked to other companies to learn about the grocery industry. Whole Foods
has asked a federal judge in Washington to change a previous order limiting
access to other companies' documents, to let its general counsel see them.

But the FTC said in a court filing made public Thursday that if companies
knew their business secrets could be turned over to a competitor such as
Whole Foods, they wouldn't cooperate with government investigators.

Other companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., The Kroger Co. and Trader
Joe's Co. have asked to enter the case to oppose Whole Foods' request for
more access to their information. Separately, Whole Foods confirmed late
Wednesday that it plans to sell the 35 Henry's and Sun Harvest stores and a
distribution center it would get by acquiring Boulder, Colorado-based Wild
Oats.

Whole Foods would sell the stores to a unit of Los Angeles-based food
retailer Smart & Final Inc., which is controlled by New York private equity
firm Apollo Management L.P. Apollo had hinted at the deal in a court filing
made public Wednesday.





  • [Livingontheland] FTC OPPOSES WHOLE FOODS' BID TO SEE DATA, TradingPostPaul, 06/27/2007

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