Topco Attempts to Buy the Wild Oats Brand

March 23, 2010

wild oats storefront Private-label cooperative Topco Associates is seeking to buy the Wild Oats brand and other related intellectual property, which would significantly accelerate its market penetration in natural and organic store brands.

Skokie, Ill.-based Topco, along with Luberski Inc., based in Fullerton, Calif., are listed as potential buyers of the Wild Oats brand from Whole Foods Market, according to a filing with the Federal Trade Commission.

Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods was ordered by the FTC to sell the Wild Oats brand along with 32 retail stores to fend off antitrust concerns stemming from its 2007 acquisition of Wild Oats Markets.

The Wild Oats brand includes extensive store brand holdings. Topco also is attempting to buy the intellectual property of Alfalfa’s Markets,’ a Boulder, Colo.-based retailer previously acquired by Wild Oats.

The FTC filing seeks public comment on the proposed divestitures over the next month.

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Keywords: alfalfa’s markets, business, companies, food and beverage, grocery, industry, luberski inc., markets, private label trends, store brand trends, topco associates, whole foods, wild oats

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