If the reports are true, the Wild Oats banner will soon be back and flying over stores that currently carry the Fresh & Easy name.
Here is how the story, broken by Bloomberg News, goes:
- Ron Burkle, the founder of the private equity firm Yucaipa, is in discussions with Tesco to acquire its unprofitable Fresh & Easy chain with 199 small stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.
- Jim Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, owns the Wild Oats name and will become CEO of the new grocery chain once the deal for Fresh & Easy is done.
Wild Oats, which had 107 stores at the time it was acquired by Whole Foods in 2007, has been planning a comeback as a CPG vendor. According to the company's website, it plans to sell a wide range of shelf stable items as part of a relaunch of the Wild Oats brand this year.