Whole Foods Market has reached a deal with US regulators to extend the deadline for settlement talks, in the hope of resolving an antitrust case over the natural food retailer’s acquisition of Wild Oats Markets.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Whole Foods have been embroiled in a protracted legal battle over the 2007 acquisition of Wild Oats. The FTC has claimed the deal breaches competition regulations.


At the end of January, the FTC agreed to a five-day pause in the legal battle for settlement talks. This has now been extended for a further 30 days, with a deadline of 6 March set.


“Discussions with Whole Foods are ongoing,” a spokesperson for the FTC confirmed today (5 February). “We are working toward a mutually acceptable agreement. It is not yet clear whether this can be achieved.”


Whole Foods was unavailable for comment at time of press.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact