The world’s largest online retailer Amazon announced the purchase of the supermarket chain Whole Foods Market for 13.7 billion dollars.
The company will pay for $ 42 for each share of Whole Foods Market, — reported in a press release.
Amazon has said that it plans no radical changes in the Whole Foods: stores will continue to operate under the same brand, the CEO of the company will remain acting head John Maki, and the main office will remain in Austin, Texas.
The deal will be the largest in the history of Amazon.
According to analysts of the leading rating agencies Moody’s Charlie O’shea, the deal could be a turning point for retail in General.
«Now these key players, such as Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Target have to look often Amazon train rides on the rails very quickly,» said O’shea.
Network Whole Foods, which was under pressure from investors because of falling sales, the deal was a forced decision. Amazon and Whole Foods expects to complete the deal before the end of 2017.
Recall, Whole Foods is the largest U.S. supermarket chain specializing in natural foods. It was founded in Texas in 1978. Now it owns 460 supermarkets in the United States, Canada and the UK.
