WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Whole Foods Market posted messages on a Yahoo chat forum under an alias for years, talking up his own company while predicting a bleak future for Wild Oats Markets, the rival it has since sought to acquire.

Chief executive John Mackey posted messages on a Yahoo financial forum under the user name ”rahodeb”, according to a court document filed by the US Federal Trade Commission and postings on Yahoo.