Whole Foods Market(R) Adds New Section on Web Site for Posting Information Regarding FTC's Attempt to Block Proposed Merger With Wild Oats Markets(R)

    AUSTIN, Texas, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whole Foods Market,
 Inc. ( WFMI) today announced the addition of a new section on its
 website (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com) dedicated to posting information
 and updates regarding the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) challenge
 of the proposed merger with Wild Oats Markets.
     As previously announced, a hearing has been scheduled to begin on July
 31, 2007 to decide whether the FTC's application to block the proposed
 merger will be granted.
     "Our approach at Whole Foods Market is to be as open and transparent as
 reasonably possible. This new section on our website, which includes a link
 to my blog, is an outlet for the Company to proactively share information.
 We hope it will help our stakeholders understand Whole Foods' position as
 we move though the legal process," said John Mackey, chairman and CEO of
 Whole Foods Market. "Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets are in full
 cooperation and will forcefully challenge the FTC's claim that the merger
 will eliminate competition in the natural-foods industry, therefore
 increasing prices and lowering quality."
     The first posting to the new section on the Company's web site -- found
 at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ftchearingupdates -- is a document that
 was presented to FTC commissioners prior to their decision to seek a
 preliminary injunction to block the merger. Entitled "The Proposed
 Acquisition of Wild Oats by Whole Foods Market Will Not Substantially
 Lessen Competition in Any Relevant Market," the document outlines the
 Company's position that the Whole Foods Market-Wild Oats Markets
 transaction poses no threat to competition.
     About Whole Foods Market: Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods
 Market (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com) is the world's leading natural and
 organic foods supermarket and America's first national certified organic
 grocer. In fiscal year 2006, the company had sales of $5.6 billion and
 currently has more than 190 stores in the United States, Canada, and the
 United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People,
 Whole Planet"(TM) captures the company's mission to find success in
 customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness,
 enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental
 improvement. Whole Foods Market, Harry's Farmers Market(R), and Fresh &
 Wild(R) are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods
 Market employs more than 45,000 Team Members and has been ranked for ten
 consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America
 by FORTUNE magazine.
     About the Transaction: On February 21, 2007, Whole Foods Market and
 Wild Oats Markets entered into a merger agreement pursuant to which Whole
 Foods Market commenced a tender offer to purchase all the outstanding
 shares of Wild Oats Markets at a purchase price of $18.50 per share in
 cash, plus assumed debt. On June 12, 2007, the Company and Wild Oats
 Markets, Inc. announced the U.S. District Court for the District of
 Columbia had scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing to begin on July
 31, 2007 and to conclude on August 1, 2007 to decide whether to approve the
 U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) application for an injunction to
 block the proposed merger between the two companies. Whole Foods Market and
 Wild Oats Markets consented to a temporary restraining order pending the
 hearing. As previously announced, the FTC provided notice of its intent to
 file a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
 seeking to block the proposed acquisition of shares pursuant to the tender
 offer. The FTC did file such complaint with the U.S. District Court for the
 District of Columbia on June 7, 2007. Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats
 Markets are cooperating to challenge the FTC's opposition to the merger.
     Whole Foods Market Safe Harbor Statement and Securities Law Disclosure:
 The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private
 Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the historical
 information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release
 are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which
 could cause Whole Foods Market's actual results to differ materially from
 those described in the forward looking statements. These risks include but
 are not limited to general business conditions, the timely development and
 opening of new stores, the impact of competition, and other risks detailed
 from time to time in Whole Foods Market's SEC reports, including the
 reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2006. Whole
 Foods Market undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
     Securities Law Disclosure: The description contained herein is neither
 an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Wild
 Oats Markets, Inc. Whole Foods Market, Inc. and WFMI Merger Co. have filed
 with the Securities and Exchange Commission a tender offer statement on
 Schedule TO and certain amendments thereto, and have mailed an offer to
 purchase, forms of letter of transmittal and related documents to Wild
 Oats' stockholders. Wild Oats has filed with the Securities and Exchange
 Commission, and has mailed to Wild Oats' stockholders, a
 solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the
 tender offer. These documents contain important information about the
 tender offer, including the terms of the tender offer, and stockholders of
 Wild Oats are urged to read them carefully. Stockholders of Wild Oats may
 obtain a free copy of these documents and other documents filed by Wild
 Oats or Whole Foods Market with the Securities and Exchange Commission at
 the website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
 http://www.sec.gov or by contacting the information agent for the tender
 offer, Georgeson Inc., at (212) 440-9800 or (866) 313-2357 (toll free), or
 the dealer manager for the tender offer, RBC Capital Markets Corporation,
 at (415) 633-8668 or (800) 777-9315 x8668 (toll free).
     Contact: Kate Lowery
     Global Public Relations Director
     kate.lowery@wholefoods.com
 
     Contact: Amy Schaefer
     Media Relations Coordinator
     512.542.0380
     amy.schaefer@wholefoods.com
 
     Contact: Cindy McCann
     VP of Investor Relations
     512.542.0204
 
 

SOURCE Whole Foods Market, Inc.