Alpha Foods Co.

SETPEMBER 6, 2005 -- One week after Hurricane Katrina's fury was unleashed on the Gulf Coast region -- leaving thousands homeless, hungry, and worse -- retailers continue looking for ways to help. Several companies late last week were sending truckloads -- and even planeloads -- of product to local relief agencies and needy refugees, while many more are jumping in to collect customer donations for American Red Cross and other organizations.

LOS ANGELES -- Compton, Calif.-based chains Ralphs and Food 4 Less, both divisions of the Kroger Co., are collecting donations throughout February, Black History Month, to support African-American organizations with a focus on education, culture, and heritage.

COMPTON, Calif. -- Ralphs Grocery Co., based here, has said it will close eleven money-losing supermarkets across California by March, according to published accounts.

COMPTON, Calif. - With reverberations from last year's West Coast grocery industry job action still being felt, price-impact supermarket chain Food 4 Less, based here, late last week reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 135, 324, 770, 1036, 1167, 1428, and 1442 in Southern California.

Is Kroger scared of Wal-Mart? No way. The nation's largest non-Arkansas-based food chain is No. 1 or No. 2 in 41 major markets.

HAMMOND, Ind. - Food 4 Less, a price-impact supermarket chain owned and operated by the Kroger Co., is expanding its reach in the greater Chicagoland area with a new store in Hammond, Ind.