WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public comments through April 12 on two additional applications filed by the Divesture Trustee overseeing the implementation of FTC’s order that certain former Wild Oats Markets locations and intellectual property be divested by Whole Foods Market to restore competition that was lost after Whole Foods acquired the Wild Oats chain in 2007. If approved, the two new applications would allow the sale of Wild Oats’ intellectual property to Topco Associates LLC or Luberski Inc., and the sale of Alfalfa’s Markets’ intellectual property to Topco. Wild Oats purchased the Alfalfa’s chain in the late 1990s, but did not re-brand the chain as Wild Oats.
Last week, the Divesture Trustee requested FTC approval to sell a former Wild Oats store in Portland, Maine, to Trader Joe’s; previous divestures were reviewed for stores in Kansas City and in Boulder, Colo.
