Frozen Foods

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Leading frozen vegetable supplier Birds Eye Foods here has named Neil Harrison chairman, president, and c.e.o. He succeeds Dennis M. Mullen, who is stepping down from active management but is making himself available as a consultant to the company.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company here is expanding and renovating its supermarket at The Plaza at Shelter Cove shopping center in Hilton Head, a popular resort area in coastal South Carolina, to keep up with its customers' upscale tastes.

LOS ANGELES -- After three years of weathering protests by local officials, labor unions, and community activists, Wal-Mart Stores yesterday opened its first supercenter in Los Angeles County in Palmdale.

From HEB to Publix and beyond, the grocers most committed to Hispanics are learning not to get lost in the translation.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Privately held independent supermarket chain Busch's, which has serviced the southeastern Michigan market for the past 25 years, plans to tighten up its perishables inventory and labor, using foodservice management software in its produce departments.

NEW YORK -- A report released yesterday by market research publisher Packaged Facts has found that just under one-fifth of U.S. adults can be classified as gourmet food consumers, and their purchases are driving a $41.2 billion industry.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As fall approaches and families get back to hectic school schedules, the frozen and refrigerated foods industry will offer convenient solutions to fuel busy school days. The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) here and its partnering manufacturers will promote October "Fuel for School" Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Festival with a sweepstakes and retail merchandising contest to build excitement with consumers.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Select Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island will now feature fully cooked, prepackaged Ted's Montana Grill Bison Chili in the frozen food section. The chili is already on sale in the Southeast, at Whole Foods and Harry's Farmers Markets in Atlanta, as well as in Whole Foods stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.