Oats sees increased deli sales in test markets.
Wild Oats Markets Inc. (Nasdaq: OATS) will roll out biodegradable deli containers to its stores nationwide. After using them successfully in its Northwest and Denver divisions, OATS believes that the corn-based containers helped boost deli sales. Wild Oats says it's the first retailer in North American to use the NatureWorks-brand containers made by Cargill Dow. The natural grocery chain is also using the containers, which reportedly look and feel like their petroleum-based counterparts, for produce and bakery items, according to a Dec. 23 announcement.