Corporate Governance

Starbucks Coffee International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks Coffee Company, has signed a joint-venture agreement with two leading retail companies in Madrid and Barcelona to enter the Spanish market.

McLane Company Inc., a Temple, Texas-based grocery and food distributor, and Marsh Supermarkets Inc, a leading regional grocery chain, announced on Friday the completion of McLane Company's acquisition of the assets of Convenience Store Distributing Company (CSDC), including the company's Richmond, Indiana distribution center.

The Worldwide Retail Exchange (WWRE) on Thursday announced the commercial launch of the WWRE Collaborative Planner, version 2.0, to all 58 Exchange members and their trading partners.

Albertson's Inc. announced its intention to join Safeway's lawsuit charging that the United Food and Commercial Workers unions have engaged in blatant "voting irregularities" in connection with the Safeway and Albertson's offer for a new labor contract.

Albertson's Inc. announced that Kathy J. Herbert, 48, has been named Executive Vice President - Human Resources, reporting directly to Larry Johnston, Chairman and CEO.

CLEMENTON, N.J., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ShopRite announced today that the revised contract proposal they had presented to UFCW Local 1360 was rejected without review by union membership. The contracts between ShopRite and the Local expired in March/April and the parties continued to operate under an extension while they negotiated. On September 6, 2001 the union called for a work stoppage.

Dierbergs Markets Inc. plans to build its firstMetro East store in Shiloh near a soon-to-open Interstate 64 interchange and has shelved plans for a store in neighboring Fairview Heights, company officials say.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2001--Sara Lee Corporation today announced revised earnings per share (EPS) guidance for its first quarter and full year for fiscal 2002 due to the adoption of new accounting rules concerning the amortization of goodwill and intangibles. The adoption of the new rules will increase net income by approximately $109 million for the full year and increaseEPS by approximately $.13, evenly split during the year.