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Non-Tech : Natural/Health Food Industry Stocks -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Greger who wrote (99)	11/13/1998 10:43:00 PM
From: Mao II	Respond to of 337

Gregar: Yeah, I agree about a mainstream chain coming in and scooping up one of these babies. And your point about wholesaling is well taken. These big chains are eating each other up -- they believe that's how they can maintain price efficiency, increase their leverage vis the distributors, and compete with the Walmarts, COstcos etc. WFMI, OATS are a different kettle of bran entirely. They run on parallel system with different rules, different cost structure etc. I'm not saying it could never happen, but in the current environment it seems highly unlikely. By the way, the big national supermarket chains have tended to shun NYC. I understand that. But I don't understand why WFMI has not moved into the area. Do you have any thoughts on the subject? Regards, M2

To: Greger who wrote (99)	11/13/1998 11:15:00 PM
From: organicgerry	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 337

I have a hard time picturing a mainstream supermarket company acquiring OATS. Talk about culture clash -- half the OATS employees would leave. WFMI and OATS both come from an alternative, hippy, greenpeace, counter-culture perspective. Now they're gradually getting more corporate and losing their ideals, especially WFMI with its big box store format with lots of white sugar junk foods (check the ingredients of their 365 line of cereals, etc.. In contrast, OATS gives a lot of money to social/environmental causes and is setting up Natural Healing Centers next to some of their stores. Theres plenty of room for years of growth for both OATS and WFMI. They will grow by taking business from the mom and pops and by attracting many new people who would never go into a small health food store. Mike Gilliland is very aggressive and smart. My guess is that he won't sell out anytime soon, he has big ambitions.