Development/Redevelopment

OTTAWA, Ontario ¿ Loeb Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Metro, Inc., a leader in the Canadian food and pharmaceutical distribution industry, with annual sales of more than $5.5 billion, opened a new 40,000-square-foot supermarket today in the nearby town of Nepean.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands - Ahold said yeasterday that next year it will move its Dutch corporate headquarters from Zaandam to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

BOULDER, Colo. - Although Wild Oats Markets, Inc. net sales increased 5.8 percent to $250.7 million, compared to $237.0 million in the third quarter of 2003, the organic and natural foods retailer still faced a net loss for the quarter of $6.1 million ¿ more than seven times the $861,000 net loss it incurred for the third quarter of 2003.

MINNEAPOLIS - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is planning to make its mark on the competitive Twin Cities supermarket business by adding a full-service grocery operation to one of its stores next year, according to published reports.

THIBODAUX, La. - Rouses Markets, Louisiana's largest independent grocer, has announced plans to build a second store in St. Tammany Parish. The 62,000-square-foot upscale store, a newer concept known as the "Epicurean Market," will feature a full-service butcher shop, seafood market, deli, cafe, floral shop, and one of the largest supermarket selections of wines in the state.

Berkeley, Calif. - Privately owned extreme-value retailer Grocery Outlet, which has maintained a presence in the Seattle-Tacoma region since 1984, is adding three new stores there over the next three months, bringing the total number of the company's stores in the state to 26.

BRISTOL, England - Somerfield Plc, which operates the Kwik Save and Somerfield grocery chains, has agreed to purchase 114 Safeway stores from William Morrison Supermarkets Plc for 260.2 million pounds (U.S.$478 million) in cash to increase its customer base, according to published reports.

COLTON, Calif. - As part of its "We Believe in America" new-store expansion program, Stater Bros. Markets will break ground at the site of what will be its newest and most modern full-service supermarket on Tues., Oct. 26.