8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                           The Securities Act of 1934

                        Date of Report: October 29, 2003

                             WILD OATS MARKETS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                     0-21577               84-1100630
(State or other jurisdiction of   Commission File Number    (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification Number)

                               3375 Mitchell Lane
                             Boulder, Colorado 80301
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (303) 440-5220
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition                      Page
                                                                            ----


Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The Registrant issued the press release regarding the results of operations and
financial condition for the period ended September 27, 2003, attached as Exhibit
99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, on October 29, 2003.

Exhibits
- --------

Exhibit 99.1        Press Release of the Registrant Dated October 29, 2003.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 29th day of October 2003.


                                            Wild Oats Markets, Inc.

                                            By  /s/ Freya R. Brier
                                                    Executive Officer

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

        Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Releases Preliminary Third Quarter Sales
        and Earnings Results, and Announces Change in Primary Distributor

    BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
(Nasdaq: OATS), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today
released its preliminary third quarter 2003 sales and earnings results.  The
Company also announced that it has reached a decision with Tree of Life, Inc.
that mutual expectations under the Company's primary distribution agreement
with Tree of Life were unlikely to be met and that Tree of Life would
relinquish the primary distribution role.

    Preliminary net sales for the third quarter of 2003 were $237.0 million, a
3.9 percent increase from $228.1 million in the third quarter of 2002.
Comparable store sales were 0.8 percent for the quarter, compared with
5.6 percent in last year's third quarter.  Preliminary net loss for the third
quarter of 2003 was ($861,000), or ($0.03) per share, compared with net income
of $2.2 million, or $0.08 per share, in the third quarter of 2002.  Included
in these results are approximately $1.5 million, or $0.03 per share, in pre-
tax charges related to asset write-offs, restructuring charges and accelerated
depreciation for the planned closure or relocation of distribution centers and
warehouses.

    The inability of Wild Oats and its primary distributor, Tree of Life, to
achieve anticipated supply chain improvements through the distribution
arrangement was one of the contributors to the net loss in the quarter.
Beginning with the transition to Tree of Life in September of 2002,
distribution performance had been improving steadily through the second
quarter of 2003.  However, despite both parties' efforts to continue to
improve performance levels to meet the expectations of the distribution
agreement, the performance levels did not meet mutual expectations in the
third quarter.  To compensate, Wild Oats Markets increased its purchases from
secondary and tertiary suppliers and distributors at a higher cost.  In
addition, operating expenses were higher in the quarter, due to increased
support needed to manage these issues.  At the beginning of the quarter, in
anticipation of continued improvement in performance levels, and to build
increased customer traffic into the stores, Wild Oats also invested in
promotional activity and marketing programs, which did not produce desired
sales results.  All of these factors contributed to the bulk of the EPS
shortfall in the third quarter.

    Wild Oats Markets and Tree of Life have mutually agreed to terminate their
current primary distribution relationship and convert Tree of Life into Wild
Oats' secondary distributor.  The parties have begun to work on a transition
plan under which Wild Oats will exercise a conversion option with its
secondary distributor, United Natural Foods (UNFI), to transition its primary
distribution business to UNFI at competitive terms.  This conversion will be
complete within the first quarter of 2004 and Tree of Life has committed to
continue to support Wild Oats' stores during the transition to UNFI.  While
the transition is expected to create some disruption in the stores, the
Company believes that it will be minimal because of the past primary and
current secondary distribution relationship with UNFI.

    "We are disappointed in our results for the quarter and in the fact that
we were unable to achieve the benefits we hoped to achieve in our partnership
with Tree of Life.  After much effort on the part of both companies, we felt
it would be most prudent to unwind the agreement," said Perry D. Odak,
President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We expect that by the end of the
first quarter of next year, we will have transitioned our business to UNFI."

    Several unknown factors, including the duration of the current labor
strikes at unionized grocery stores in Southern California and in St. Louis,
Missouri, potential additional strikes in other states, as well as the
transition to a new primary distributor, may have an impact on earnings in the
fourth quarter.  Therefore, the Company has withdrawn its previous EPS
guidance for 2003 and is unable to provide revised full year EPS guidance at
this time.  On November 4, 2003, the Company will release full results for the
third quarter of 2003 and will host a comprehensive conference call with the
investment community.

    Company management will host a brief conference call with financial
analysts and investors today, October 29, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain time
(1:00 p.m. Eastern time).  Participants calling from the U.S. may call in by
dialing (877) 252-5618.  International callers should dial (706) 634-1349.
Participants should ask for the "Wild Oats conference call" or reference
conference ID number 3595456.  A simultaneous webcast will be available
through a link on the Investor Relations page of the Wild Oats website at
www.wildoatsinc.com.  A replay will be available two hours after the
completion of the conference call through 11:59 p.m. November 5, 2003.  To
access the replay, please dial (800) 642-1687, domestically, or (706) 645-9291
from outside the U.S., and use the access code 3595456.  The conference call
will also be archived on the Company's website.


    About Wild Oats

    Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods
markets in the U.S. and Canada.  The Company currently operates 101 natural
foods stores in 25 states and British Columbia, Canada.  The Company's markets
include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry's Marketplace, Sun Harvest and
Capers Community Markets.  For more information, please visit the Company's
website at www.wildoats.com.


    Risk Factors and Uncertainties

    Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Such forward-looking statements include the number, timing and location of
stores that the Company plans to open, relocate, sell or close in the future,
the amount and timing of expected restructuring and asset impairment charges,
expected future comparable store sales, revenues and earnings per share, the
success of the Company's marketing and merchandising programs, the ability to
resolve distributor issues without significant disruption, and the future
financial measures and the prospects for favorable growth and performance.

    The statements made by the Company are based on management's present
expectations, and actual results may differ from the results indicated or
otherwise implied by such forward-looking statements due to certain risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, the
impact of competition and labor disputes in certain regions, the ability to
obtain necessary inventory, the Company's ability to execute on marketing and
merchandising initiatives to drive customer traffic, as well as other risks
detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002, as well as
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  These risk factors may not be an all-
inclusive enumeration of the business risks faced by Wild Oats.  Investors
should recognize that the reliability of any projected financial data
diminishes the farther in the future the data are projected.

    The statements made by management of the Company and summarized above
represent their views as of the date of this press release, and it should not
be assumed that the statements made herein remain accurate as of any future
date.  Wild Oats does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no
duty to any person to effect any such update under any circumstances.



SOURCE  Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
    -0-                             10/29/2003
    /CONTACT:  Sonja Tuitele, Corporate Communications of Wild Oats Markets,
Inc., +1-720-562-4984/
    /Web site:  http://www.wildoatsinc.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.wildoats.com /
    (OATS)

CO:  Wild Oats Markets, Inc.; Tree of Life, Inc.; United Natural Foods (UNFI)
ST:  Colorado
IN:  REA SUP FOD
SU:  ERN CCA