WILD OATS SAME-STORE SALES GROW 3%

Wild Oats Markets posted a lower second-quarter profit thanks to higher expenses and costs from the sale of store assets. Second-quarter net income fell to $127,000 from $4.9 million a year earlier. Meanwhile, sales rose 5.1% to $311.8 million and same-store sales grew 3.1%. The company says it is working on remodeling and refreshing its stores during the rest of 2007 and into 2008.

Wild Oats agreed to be acquired by larger rival Whole Foods, but the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sought to block the deal. Wild Oats said a hearing before the FTC is set for Sept. 27.