Mergers & Acquisitions

Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG - news) today announced that it is exercising an option to purchase the interest of Albertson's Inc. (NYSE: ABS - news) in its joint venture, RxAmerica.

Mott's Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based Cadbury Schweppes plc, announced on Tuesday it had agreed to acquire the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands and related assets from Eagle Family Foods Inc. for $128 million.

Sara Lee Corporation announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of The Earthgrains Company, the number-two player in the fresh bread category. The combined bakery operations of Sara Lee and Earthgrains, which will now be named the Sara Lee Bakery Group, together generate approximately $3.4 billion in annual sales.

Webvan Group Inc. announced on Monday that it is in the process of soliciting bids for the purchase of its business units, technology platforms and other assets. Interested parties must submit offers to the company by Aug. 27, 2001.

Nash Finch Company on Monday announced its completed acquisition of U Save Foods Inc. through a purchase of U Save's capital stock. Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., U Save Foods was a privately-held company with 14 supermarkets operating in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.

Big V Supermarkets Inc. said on Thursday that it is reviewing its legal and strategic alternatives in light of the oral decision issued by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware denying Big V's request for a declaratory judgment that the company could withdraw from the Wakefern cooperative without incurring a financial penalty.

U.K. retailer Tesco on Wednesday took a controlling stake in Nutri Centre, a retailer of natural remedies currently operating one shop and a mail order service, according to an article in The Financial Times.

The WorldWide Retail Exchange, the premier business-to-business exchange for retailers and suppliers, today announced that Markant, the German-based services organization, has joined the Exchange as its newest charter member.