Albertson's

PHILADELPHIA, -- Acme Markets, Inc., a unit of Albertsons, has purchased a prominent portion of the former Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and plans to erect a 50,000 sq. ft. combo store on the South Philly site. Food-drug combo stores, such as its Albertsons Sav-On and Jewel-Osco formats, form the Boise, Idaho-based chain's key strategy for growth.

NEW YORK - No. 1 drug chain Walgreen Co. on Thursday became the latest retailer to say it may have to pull out of a state Medicaid program because of cutbacks in reimbursements, Reuters reports.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catalina Marketing Corporation announced a pilot agreement with Maruetsu, Japan's top supermarket chain, to install its electronic couponing network in six of its stores in the Tokyo market.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Albertson's, Acme Markets and Big Y are among the chains that selected Unicru Inc.'s hourly hiring management system solution in the second quarter of 2002.

PITTSBURGH - Giant Eagle Inc. on Tuesday officially announced it has formed a joint venture with Guttman Enterprises, operators of the Crossroads convenience stores, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

CHICAGO - Home improvement retail chain Home Depot Inc. pushed aside Kroger Co. to become the second-largest U.S. retailer behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to the 2002 tally of sales by Stores magazine.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. - Increasing product availability on the store shelf can boost retail sales by three percent or $200,000 annually per average supermarket, according to a study released today from the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

DENVER - Albertson's Inc. on Thursday announced the appointment of Judy Spires as president of its Rocky Mountain division, effective June 3, 2002.