<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 1997 and the consolidated
statement of operations for the year ended December 27, 1997 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                       0000909990
<NAME>                 WILD OATS MARKETS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                         USD

                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              Dec-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 Dec-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                   Dec-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                      1
<CASH>                          46,784
<SECURITIES>                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                    1,240
<ALLOWANCES>                       214
<INVENTORY>                     24,623
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                75,293
<PP&E>                          82,808
<DEPRECIATION>                  19,517
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 184,551
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           39,759
<BONDS>                          4,157
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                0
<PREFERRED>                          0
<COMMON>                            14
<OTHER-SE>                     137,370
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   184,551
<SALES>                        383,853
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               383,853
<CGS>                          268,059
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  268,059
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               100,239
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   273
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 378
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 14,904
<INCOME-TAX>                     5,457
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              9,447
<DISCONTINUED>                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      0
<CHANGES>                            0
<NET-INCOME>                     9,447
<EPS-BASIC>                       0.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                     0.76