Two years after local businessmen resurrected Alfalfa’s name and opened a reboot of the Boulder natural foods chain, Boulder-bred brethren Wild Oats Markets also may make a return.
Tuesday, British grocer Tesco announced plans to exit the U.S. market and sell its Fresh & Easy chain to Yucaipa Cos., the investment firm of former Wild Oats investor Ron Burkle.
Yucaipa will acquire more than 150 of Fresh & Easy’s nearly 200 smaller-format stores, as well as distribution and production facilities, Cheshunt, England-based Tesco said Tuesday.
Yucaipa expects to complete the purchase within three months, it told Bloomberg News on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, publications such as Bloomberg News and Financial Times — citing unnamed sources — reported that grocery magnate Burkle was in talks to not only acquire the Fresh & Easy chain from Tesco but also convert the stores to the Wild Oats brand.
Whole Foods Market acquired the original Wild Oats in 2007.
