Albertsons

BOISE, Idaho -- In honor of Black History Month, Albertson's, Inc. here and Coca-Cola are teaming up to make donations to African-American nonprofit organizations nationwide. This year, Albertsons and Coke have pledged to contribute $125,000 to organizations with ties to African-American communities.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The board of directors of Supervalu, based here, said yesterday that it has elected PetSmart, Inc. chairman and c.e.o. Philip L. Francis, a supermarket industry veteran, to the board.

NEWARK, Del. --Through a sponsorship from Try-Foods International, Inc., up to 10 retailers will receive $1,000 towards their expenses to attend the 2006 PMA Retail Produce Solutions Conference (RPSC) to be held March 9 to March 11 in Houston.

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Carl Jablonski has been appointed the new president of Albertsons' Shaw's Supermarkets Division here, effective yesterday, according to a memo sent to employees by Albertsons chairman and c.e.o. Larry Johnston. In his new role Jablonski will continue to report directly to e.v.p. of marketing and food operations Paul Gannon.

BOISE, Idaho -- With its board reportedly expected to meet last night, Albertson's Inc. here appeared close to being sold to the consortium of retailers and financial buyers that had tried once and failed to close a deal for the chain for roughly $9.6 billion.

MALVERN, Pa. -- Grocery store workers at Acme Markets, based here, voted last week to ratify a three-year contract giving them a $1.10-per-hour increase in pay over its term. The employees had been working under an extension of their last contract, which expired in early February.

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's Inc. yesterday received an America's Marketplace Recycles! Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Boise, Idaho -- Bear Stearns downgraded Albertson's Inc. to "underperform" from "peer perform," but on what's its retail analysts consider the chain's dim prospects of finding a buyer that would purchase the chain outright.