420689 Fri Jul 13 00:27:28 -0700 2007 1 33 Food Media and News 0 2745679 Here's a link to the NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/business/13foods.html?ref=business John P. Mackey, Co-Founder and CEO of WF used his online persona, Rahodeb, on the Yahoo message boards. He anonymously chatted about WF stocks and competitors, such as Wild oats. He said this about Wild Oats: “Whole Foods is systematically destroying their viability as a business — market by market, city by city... I find it simply amazing that some investors continue to have faith in this company.” This is in the middle of WF's bid to buy out Wild Oats, which the FTC is opposing. Mackey's been on other boards, as himself, defending WF - specifically with regard to Omnivore's Dilemma. But this is different - it may be illegal. The SEC's probably going to look into it. He may not be CEO much longer. My own 2 cents is that, hopefully, this quashes the Wild Oats buyout for good. Maybe WF will take a good hard look at itself - move away from the exclusivity, the ridiculously high prices, and the co-opting tactics of locking in local, organic producers. Fri Jul 13 00:27:28 -0700 2007 10312 applehome 1 2746522 Have been reading about this saga with some thing of a smirk on my face, since I heard about it last night on NPR. I mean, WF is just the sort of place everyone LOVES to hate....The fact that his behavior is so this incredibly odd, along with being possibly illegal just makes for great drama! Fri Jul 13 09:18:38 -0700 2007 2745679 54408 baltoellen