SPINS and Wild Oats Markets Announce a New Partnership for Managing Information to Grow the Natural Products Industry
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 5, 2003 - SPINS, the leading provider of content and consulting services to grow the natural products industry, and Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: OATS), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today announced a new, enhanced partnership.
The partnership entails Wild Oats access to, and application of SPINS content and consulting services to assist with the efficient management of the company's business and growth initiatives.
"SPINS, like Wild Oats, has been dedicated to serving the needs of the natural products industry for many years," said Steve Kaczynski, Wild Oats Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising. "We are pleased to be extending the level of our partnership with SPINS, and encourage our vendor partners to use SPINS information to help us manage our business and effectively meet the needs of our customers."
As part of the new partnership, SPINS will develop a new enhanced Wild Oats Key Account content service, which will allow the company to track and report sales by product across all U.S.-based stores. This service will be aligned with the SPINSscan content service, which tracks and reports sales within natural products retail outlets nationwide, allowing for greater product information analysis and planning.
"We at SPINS are very excited about working in close partnership with Wild Oats to move the Natural Products Industry forward," said Jeff Nibler, SPINS' Vice President and General Manager. "As the industry continues its rapid growth, close partnerships between key industry players are the primary way we will meet the information needs of the industry, and continue to serve the growing base of consumers committed to natural, organic and sustainable products."
About Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Company currently operates 102 natural foods stores in 25 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company's markets include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry's Marketplace, Nature's -- a Wild Oats Market, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.wildoats.com.