Events

MINNEAPOLIS -- More than 3,300 grocery stores operated by chains including Kroger, Giant Foods, HEB, Whole Foods, and Wild Oats, are joining forces with 45 organic product manufacturers to present "Go Organic! for Earth Day," the second annual national educational and promotional campaign to encourage people to learn about and try organic products.

CHICAGO -- ACNielsen and Spectra, companies of VNU, Inc., are preparing for an even bigger and better Consumer 360 2006 conference, the companies said yesterday. Consumer 360 will be held May 16-18 at the Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Desert, Calif., featuring the theme, "What's Next? in the Fast-Moving Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (FMCG)."

HOUSTON, Texas -- Regional retailer Fiesta Mart, Inc. here is offering its shoppers 24 pages of recipes celebrating the foods of Lent, in a bilingual 2006 Lent Book. This is the fourth year Fiesta Mart has produced the free recipe book.

MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores, Inc. said yesterday that it has opened its 6,000th store, located in Joliet, IL.

MINNEAPOLIS -- To help reinvigorate the New Orleans baking community, General Mills based here baked and sold 500 King Cakes for a fundraising event at The Bagel Factory in New Orleans yesterday.

NORWALK, Conn. -- Marking the 20 percent growth of its specialty cheese section in the past year, Stew Leonard's, based here, will be holding a "Celebration of Cheese" promotion throughout the month of March, including free specialty cheese-tasting events.

NEWARK, Del. -- The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) here is readying to help provide a diverse learning and networking program examining the produce consumption and buying habits of four high-growth "new consumer" markets at the upcoming Retail Produce Solutions Conference (RPSC) March 9-11, 2006, in Houston.

QUINCY, Mass. -- In celebration of Black History Month, Ahold USA and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Co./Giant Food, LLC will be hosting their inaugural Supplier Diversity Luncheon at the Quincy Marriott here on Feb. 22. More than 150 minority and women-owned Enterprises will be represented.