Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Whole Foods CEO Sorry for Web Subterfuge

Online shenanigans draw board scrutiny along with SEC probe

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 18, 2007 6:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – The CEO of Whole Foods apologized yesterday for boosting his company and posting snide comments about a rival supermarket chain in Internet forums and said he "had fun doing it." John Mackey's actions over the last 8 years have already triggered an SEC... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

There are no comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Miami Face-Eater Identified

Chagas Disease the 'New AIDS of the Americas'

Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)

Stock quotes

Whole Foods
Associated Press

Wild Oats
Associated Press

Reactions to the news

"You can imagine the sinking feeling I felt"
Wall Street Journal

"Mackey didn't break any actual rules, he most certainly displayed rather poor social etiquette"
Austinist Blog

food • Yahoo • mergers and acquisitions • Whole Foods • Wild Oats • finance • forums • message boards • SEC • acquisition • John Mackey • FTC • food company

More Newser Stories

Court Stalls Whole Foods Merger

FTC wins 2 days to argue that $565M Wild Oats deal would ruin competition

(NEWSER) - A federal court issued a temporary injunction yesterday preventing Whole Foods from buying Wild Oats—at least today. The three-judge panel wants extra time to consider the FTC's argument that combining the nation's two largest organic food retailers would destroy competition. The companies will file additional briefs by tomorrow, and the FTC will have a day to rebut. More»

Whole Foods May Reap Wild Oats: Judge

Federal Judge won't block merger

(NEWSER) - A federal judge refused to block Whole Foods' $565 million purchase of the company's organic supermarket rival, Wild Oats Markets, despite an effort by the Federal Trade Commission to prevent the merger. The merger could go through next week if there is no appeal, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

FTC Spills Trade Secrets

Redacted portions were actually easily legible

(NEWSER) - While investigating Whole Foods Market's proposed takeover of competitor Wild Oats, the FTC accidentally released dozens of Whole Foods' trade secrets. The commission filed documents electronically without realizing that redacted portions were actually legible, just shaded. Among the secrets: how Whole Foods negotiates with suppliers to drive up prices at Wal-Mart. More»

Food Fight: CEO Ripped Rival in Secret Posts

Whole Foods boss trashed Wild Oats in Yahoo forum

(NEWSER) - The founder of Whole Foods secretly posted messages on a Yahoo stock investors forum—boosting his own company and damning competitor Wild Oats, the Wall Street Journal reports. Now, as CEO John Mackey tries to buy the company he trash-talked, the posts that ran for eight years have come back to haunt him. More»

Whole Foods Cannot Sow Wild Oats

FTC accuses crunchy granola types of monopoly grab

(NEWSER) - Even crunchy granola types may be monopolists at heart—at least according to the Federal Trade Commission.The FTC said yesterday it wants to block Whole Foods’ $670 million purchase of Wild Oats Markets, claiming that the sale will result in even higher-than-usual prices at the natural foods stores. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Whole Foods CEO Sorry for Web Subterfuge

Online shenanigans draw board scrutiny along with SEC probe

Stock quotes

Related links

Reactions to the news

food • Yahoo • mergers and acquisitions • Whole Foods • Wild Oats • finance • forums • message boards • SEC • acquisition • John Mackey • FTC • food company

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Court Stalls Whole Foods Merger

FTC wins 2 days to argue that $565M Wild Oats deal would ruin competition

Whole Foods May Reap Wild Oats: Judge

Federal Judge won't block merger

FTC Spills Trade Secrets

Redacted portions were actually easily legible

Food Fight: CEO Ripped Rival in Secret Posts

Whole Foods boss trashed Wild Oats in Yahoo forum

Whole Foods Cannot Sow Wild Oats

FTC accuses crunchy granola types of monopoly grab

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?