Wild Oats Posts Loss on Change in Accounting

Wild Oats Markets Inc., a natural and organic food chain based in Boulder, Colo., reported a first-quarter loss, hurt by costs from an accounting change and opening new stores.

The loss was $1.2 million, or 4 cents a share, contrasted with a profit of $2.1 million, or 7 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 5.4% to $278.1 million.