7 potential bidders, a call to Amazon, and an ultimatum: How the Whole Foods deal went down

Whole Foods courted seven separate potential deal partners. The company read a news story about Amazon's interest and reached out after feeling the heat from activist investors. Amazon played hardball, demanding secrecy and nearly walking away after Whole Foods made a $45-per-share counteroffer. The day that Amazon and Whole Foods announced their $13.7 billion merger that shook the grocery industry, a giddy John Mackey couldn't hide his enthusiasm. The grocer's CEO regaled a crowd of...