Yucaipa Group Increases Stake in Wild Oats
Supermarket bigwig Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Investment group increased its share in Wild Oats to 14.9% last week after purchasing 1.5 million share of Oats at $12.50 per share.
Analysts cite Burkle’s interest may have to do with the impending sales of Albertson’s. Regardless Yucaipa’s increased interest is good news for Oats.
Long term NBN thinks Supervalu, the midwest chain that is part of the consortium buying Albertsons may be the next big player in the natural supermarket wars. The company’s new format Sunflower Markets, the first of which opened in Indianapolis late last year will be the first real challengt to WFM’s ongoing dominance in the field.
