CALIFORNIA: Wal-Mart Stores Inc is not actively considering making an offer for Whole Foods Market Inc, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. Whole Foods, which accepted a $13.7 billion offer from Amazon.com Inc last week, has not received any rival bids as of Friday, a second source said. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is confidential. Wal-Mart spokesman Greg Hitt declined to comment on whether the company is considering a bid for Whole Foods. Whole Foods and Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Whole Foods shares have been trading above Amazon’s deal price of $42 per share since the deal was announced last Friday, as stock market investors speculate about the possibility of a higher offer. Whole Foods shares reached a high of $43.84 earlier on Friday, but dropped after Reuters reported that no rival bids have so far emerged. Its shares were last trading after hours at $42.85. Wal-Mart had been tipped as a potential bidder for Whole Foods by retail analysts, although Hitt previously called reports that Wal-Mart might put in a rival offer “false and baseless.” Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, has been investing heavily in building its e-commerce business and has been acquiring smaller online companies such as Jet.com, ModCloth, Moosejaw and Bonobos. “Bidding for Whole Foods would be a 180-degree turn from what Wal-Mart’s strategy has been for the past two to three years,” said Edwards Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough. Amazon’s proposed purchase of Whole Foods brings disruption to the $700 billion US grocery sector, a traditional area of retailing that is in the middle of an intense price war. In preparation for that price war, Wal-Mart in recent months has cut grocery prices, improved its fresh food and meat offerings, modernized shelving and lighting in its grocery department and expanded its online pick-up service. Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.