Center Store

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.

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.

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.

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.

PepsiCo today announced several organization changes designed to help the company gain the full benefit of its recently completed merger with The Quaker Oats Company.

The fourth annual Progressive Grocer ProGro and Cannondale Associates PowerRanking Awards banquet, celebrating the "best of the best" in retailing and manufacturing, is scheduled for Nov. 1 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Chicago.

Fenway Partners, a private investment firm, announced today that The H. J. Heinz Company has purchased Delimex, a rapidly growing producer and distributor of branded, high-quality frozen Mexican foods. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

PepsiCo said today it has completed its merger with The Quaker Oats Company, creating a $25 billion food and beverage company sharply focused on the rapidly growing consumer demand for convenience.