Industry

WASHINGTON - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Harvard University today are supposed to release a long-awaited study assessing the likelihood that "mad cow" disease could spread to the United States, Reuters reported.

CINCINNATI - Chiquita Brands International Inc. today filed in Federal Court in Cincinnati a Pre-Arranged Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

NEW YORK - Philip Morris Cos. announced Thursday that it will seek shareholder approval in April to change its name to Altria Group Inc. in order to distinguish the company from its tobacco business, Dow Jones reported.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Grocers Association announced on Thursday that George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States, is to be the featured speaker at the National Grocers Association's Annual Convention and Concept Show.

BANGKOK, Thailand - Cees van der Hoeven, CEO of Royal Ahold, and Antony Burgmans, chairman of Unilever, have been chosen to take over as co-chairmen of the Global Commerce Initiative, a worldwide advisory group for the development of voluntary electronic transaction standards for business.

Retailers are continuing to spend money on store design even in these uncertain economic times, according to the results of the 12th Annual Store Fixture survey conducted by Display & Design Ideas (DDI) Magazine with cooperation from the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers (NASFM).

Safeway Inc. will hold a conference for analysts and institutional investors today to review its performance in the last year and its prospects for continued growth. The company is targeting five-year annual earnings per share growth of 13% - 15%.

Dodge and Save Mart Supermarkets have agreed to a two-year agreement that renews both partners as co-title sponsors of the NASCAR Winston Cup event at Sears Point Raceway. The event will be called the Dodge/Save Mart 350 through the 2003 season.