BOULDER, Colo. – Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: OATS), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, is proud to announce it has been included in the prestigious Business Ethics Magazine‚s annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list for 2006. This year, Business Ethics magazine ranked Wild Oats number 28, out of the 1,100 U.S. public companies surveyed by the nationally known magazine. This is the third year Wild Oats Markets has been recognized on the annual list, which began in 1999.
Business Ethics magazine, the premier publication for socially responsible business, bases its ranking on quantitative measures of corporate service to eight stakeholder groups: shareholders, community, governance, diversity, employees, environment, human rights and product.
“Wild Oats is extremely honored to be chosen as a top corporate citizen by Business Ethics Magazine,” said Perry Odak, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wild Oats Markets. “Since the Company was founded in 1987, Wild Oats has been dedicated to supporting our local communities, the environment, our customers and our employees.”
Wild Oats supports its local communities and is committed to carrying high-quality regional and local products in its stores whenever possible. As part of Wild Oats‚ mission to promote health and well-being among customers, employees, local communities and the environment, Wild Oats supports non-profit, local and national organizations that promote sustainable agriculture, education, environmental preservation, hunger relief and animal welfare.
Wild Oats donates more than $2 million annually to its local communities and national non-profit organizations with paid volunteer time, food donations and monetary gifts. Last year, Wild Oats and its customers donated more than $500,000 through major fundraising drives to support several non-profit organizations, including Hurricane Katrina relief and humanitarian efforts made by the American Red Cross; Southeast Asian Tsunami Relief efforts; the American Farmland Trust; Habitat for Humanity and Food For All®, an anti-hunger organization.
In addition to ongoing fundraising programs, nonprofit groups can apply for other charitable giving opportunities at donation stations in Wild Oats stores. The Company also supports local charitable organizations through food donations, benefit events and its Wooden Nickel program, which allows customers who bring their own shopping bag to the store to make a 5-cent donation to one of several local charities in lieu of receiving a nickel refund.
“Wild Oats Markets realizes that as a leader in the natural and organic foods industry, we have a responsibility to go beyond providing quality food to our customers,” said Mr. Odak. “From our industry-leading commitment to organics and protecting our environment, to our increasing support of Fair Trade products and strong community initiatives, Wild Oats is proud to be recognized as a socially responsible company.”
With progressive benefits that include a community volunteer work benefit, whereby Wild Oats pays its employees for up to 52 hours each year for volunteering with local nonprofit groups, and a commitment to socially responsible business practices, such as Fair Trade coffee and organic agricultural practices, Wild Oats is committed to delivering value to all its stakeholders.
Wild Oats has become the nation‚s leading retailer of Fair Trade products, selling Fair Trade bananas, coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, pineapples and mangoes. In 2004, Wild Oats became the first retailer in North America to begin using compostable deli containers made from corn, and have expanded this use of this state-of-the-art technology to drinking cups and its gift cards. Select Wild Oats stores are run by wind power, and the Company has energy-saving systems in new stores that reduce overall energy consumption.
In 2004, Wild Oats was named 39th and in 2003 the Company was number 19 on the list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Business Ethics Magazine.
About Wild Oats
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Company operates 113 natural foods stores in 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s markets include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry’s Farmers Market, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.wildoats.com.
