OATS Wild Oats Markets (MM)

Customers Participate in Raising Funds for International Childhood Blindness Prevention Program BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:OATS), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today announced that it will donate $65,500 to Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides health education and nutritional supplements to medically underserved communities around the world. Through Wild Oats' donation, more than a quarter of a million at-risk children will receive vitamin A treatments through the assistance of Vitamin Angels. Wild Oats encouraged its customers to participate in the fundraiser from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2006. Each time a customer purchased a bottle of Wild Oats brand vitamins during this two-month period, 25 cents was donated to Vitamin Angels. "Our goal at Vitamin Angels is to eliminate childhood blindness by the year 2020," said Howard B. Schiffer, founder and president of Vitamin Angels. "Wild Oats' generous donation during August and September will cover the cost of administering a year's supply of vitamin A capsules to nutrition programs in poverty stricken communities." Vitamin A plays an integral role in the health and development of children, and is vital to healthy vision, bone growth and boosting the immune system. Health statistics indicate there are approximately 140 million pre-school age children who are sub-clinically vitamin A deficient and that half of those children who do become blind will die each year from opportunistic infections. "Without Wild Oats' donation, thousands of children would continue to struggle to stay healthy and alive," said Steve Davis, Vice President of Holistic Health for Wild Oats Markets. "Wild Oats and Vitamin Angels can achieve solutions for at-risk children who might not otherwise have the means to proper healthcare. Together, we truly can make a difference." About Wild Oats: Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada with annual sales of more than $1.1 billion. The Company operates 114 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 http://www.wildoats.com/. About Vitamin Angels Vitamin Angels, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization was created in 1994 to fight malnutrition and childhood blindness around the world. Vitamin Angels provide health education and nutritional supplements to individuals, families, and communities that are medically underserved or at risk of a specific condition or illness. Please contact Megan Starks at 805-564-8400 to make a donation to Vitamin Angels. For additional information, please visit http://www.vitaminangels.org/. DATASOURCE: Wild Oats Markets, Inc. CONTACT: Sonja Tuitele of Wild Oats Markets, Inc., +1-720-562-4984 Web site: http://www.vitaminangels.org/ Web site: http://www.wildoats.com/

Copyright