BOULDER — Whole Foods has received “good faith offers” for two of its Boulder stores, formerly Wild Oats locations, that were up for sale as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The federal agency and the Austin, Texas-based natural foods chain reached a settlement in March where Whole Foods would sell 12 former Wild Oats stores, one Whole Foods store, 19 closed Wild Oats stores and Wild Oats trademarks and other intellectual property. The settlement was reached earlier this year after a lengthy battle over Whole Foods’ acquisition of Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc.
The 1651 Broadway and 2584 Baseline Road grocery stores — two of the four Wild Oats stores in Boulder County — are among seven operating stores that are under negotiations to be sold, Whole Foods officials said. The other stores are in West Hartford, Conn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Las Vegas.
The potential buyers’ identities were not disclosed.
Two non-operating locations — in Portland, Ore.; and Portland, Maine — also remain under review until March 6.
The six other operating stores are now “off the market,” because they did not receive offers by Tuesday, the initial deadline, officials said. Whole Foods will maintain control of those stores, which include locations in Littleton, Colorado Springs and Westminster.
The 17 remaining non-operating stores will remain in Whole Foods’ possession, a spokesperson said.
None of the sales has been completed, Whole Foods officials said in an e-mailed statement. The FTC has to approve any final purchase agreements before March 6.
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