CHICAGO, Oct. 18 (NATURALWIRE) -- Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (Nasdaq: OATS - News), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, and Peapod, the country's leading Internet grocer, today announced that more than 200 Wild Oats branded natural and organic products are now available to Chicago area shoppers on the Peapod online grocery site.
The selection of products will range from cage-free eggs, orange juice and organic milk to all-natural cookies, imported Italian sodas and environmentally friendly paper goods. With only two stores in the area -- Wild Oats Natural Marketplace in Hinsdale and People's Market in Evanston -- this partnership provides Chicagoans who hunger for more Wild Oats natural and organics, one-click access to convenient home delivery of these great tasting products. This is Wild Oats' first foray into online food retailing.
"The number one request we get from shoppers is that they want us to put a Wild Oats store in their neighborhood," said Perry Odak, President & CEO for Wild Oats Markets. "People will drive great distances to shop at our stores because they know they can find products -- particularly our own Wild Oats branded products -- that aren't available elsewhere. With Peapod, we can deliver our products right to customers' doorsteps."
In addition to meeting consumers' needs for convenience in today's hectic world, natural and organic products fit like peas in a pod with online retailing in terms of consumer attributes.
"The Peapod site allows consumers to easily sort the types of products they are looking for to meet their dietary needs and taste profiles," said Tony Stallone, Vice President of Fresh Markets and Merchandising for Peapod. "Being able to sort by calories, fat, fiber and sodium can also save time. We are adding the Wild Oats line of products to our assortment because we believe that they have the most stringent quality standards in the industry at a price our customers can appreciate."
The Wild Oats line of branded products incorporates the highest quality ingredients and attractive packaging that provides information about the benefits of natural and organic foods.
About Wild Oats Markets
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. With nearly $970 million in annual sales, the Company currently operates 108 stores in 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company's natural foods stores include Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry's Farmers Market, Capers Community Markets and Sun Harvest. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.wildoats.com.
About Peapod
Founded in 1989 as a smart shopping option for busy people, Peapod today stands as the country's leading Internet grocer, serving 13 U.S. markets including the metro areas of Chicago, Boston, Suburban N.Y. and Washington, D.C., and communities in the states of Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and Rhode Island. The Skokie, Illinois-based company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Ahold in The Netherlands, has achieved over 6 million deliveries since its late 1980s inception. For more information on Peapod, call 1.800.5.PEAPOD (573.2763); e-mail service@peapod.com or visit www.peapod.com.
Source: Wild Oats Markets, Inc.; Peapod
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