Albertson's Market

NEW YORK -- Moody's Investors Service here yesterday cut its ratings on Albertson's Inc. and Supervalu Inc. to junk status, and it might cut them again, due to the impacts from the Albertson's breakup and acquisition by the investors led by Supervalu.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The tug-of-war between extreme value discounter Grocery Outlet and soon-to-be partitioned mega-chain Albertsons over the Lucky banner escalated yet again yesterday, as Grocery Outlet filed an amended complaint with the U.S. District Court for Northern California claiming that it's not infringing on Albertson's rights, and that on the contrary, Albertsons' recent scurrying to activate the Lucky name constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition.

CHICAGO -- Supervalu chairman and c.e.o. Jeff Noddle has joined the list of headline speakers at this year's Consumer 360 Conference to be held May 16 to May 18 at the J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. The annual event -- hosted by Progressive Grocer's sister VNU companies, ACNielsen and Spectra -- is the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry's premiere educational and networking event, attracting over 1,000 industry professionals each year.

BERKELY, Calif. -- A federal Judge of the Ninth circuit court yesterday denied Boise, Idaho-based supermarket chain Albertsons' request for a temporary restraining order against Grocery Outlet's use of the Lucky brand, paving the way for Grocery Outlet's plans to open future stores under the once-popular banner.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Extreme value retailer Grocery Outlet this weekend opened its first store under the Lucky banner, in Rocklin, Calif., bringing back a venerable brand that was scuttled in 1999 after Albertsons bought its parent, American Stores.

NEW YORK -- Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. will put Robert Miller, current chairman of natural and organic food retailer Wild Oats and drug chain Rite Aid, at the helm of the Albertsons grocery operations it is acquiring as part of the grocery deal of the decade, once that deal closes mid-2006.

NEW YORK -- Supervalu, the wholesaler-retailer poised to become the second biggest primarily-traditional grocer in the country, passed out a few details to investors on its plans for integration of huge chunks of Albertsons, at a Bear Stearns conference here yesterday. Judging from the questions posed by attendees from the financial community, however, it was clear there's a huge appetite for more information that is yet to be sated.

BOISE, Idaho-- Albertsons Inc. Q4 sales, comps, and profits took a dive -- though its stock price was up a quarter of a percent, ending the day at $25.50.