Ralph's Market

ENCINO, Calif. - Unionized clerks at Gelson's Markets will vote this week on a new labor contract after rejecting it March 12, according to a report in The Orange County Register.

COMPTON, Calif. - Ralphs Grocery Co. here yesterday said it will permanently close 15 underperforming Ralphs supermarkets in Southern California within the next 60 days. The store closures are not related to the recently resolved Southern California supermarket labor dispute.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. today reported a net loss of $337.4 million, or $(0.45) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, 2004.

LOS ANGELES - After a two-day vote, 86 percent of Southern California grocery workers who cast ballots approved a contract negotiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, concluding a five-month strike and lockout that cost millions in lost sales.

CHICAGO - USF Corp.'s USF Logistics Services, Inc. subsidiary has signed an agreement with the Kroger Co. to manage grocery unsaleables within the Cincinnati/Dayton Kroger marketing area (KMA).

AUSTIN, Texas - Whole Foods Market here said yesterday sales for its first quarter, ended Jan. 18, reached a record $1.1 billion, a 21 percent over the $924 million reported last year, and the first time quarterly sales passed the $1 billion mark.

LOS ANGELES - Negotiators in Southern California's long-running grocery strike prepare to return to the table this week for the first time in nearly two months, the Associated Press reports.

CHICAGO - CoolSavings Inc., an online direct marketing and media company, today announced it has purchased the Targeted Marketing Services (TMS) business of Alliance Data Systems.