Large Chains

BRUSSELS - Delhaize Group here today said it will restructure its Tampa, Fla.-based Kash n' Karry subsidiary to focus on Florida's western Gold Coast, where it plans to open or remodel 20 stores. However, to redirect the resources to where they will benefit Kash n' Karry most, 34 underperforming stores will be closed or sold in the first quarter of 2004.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Rite Aid Corp.'s chairman has won a severance dispute with his former employer, The Kroger Co., which has handed over a $6.1 million payment, the companies said.

CHICAGO - Drug store chain Rite Aid Corp. said today that it has assigned c.f.o. Chris Hall to a new job after he proposed a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to his previous employment.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It's not often that a supermarket robbery garners national press attention, but it's not every day that a supermarket is robbed by a giant chicken.

DETROIT - A&P unit Farmer Jack on Tuesday informed employees that it will close 13 southeast Michigan area stores by mid-February as part of the company's continuing efforts to restore profitability. Last week Farmer Jack announced it will close its two Lansing, Mich. stores.

LONDON - Wal-Mart-owned ASDA allegedly has offered Safeway UK close to 2 billion British pounds ($3.487 billion) for 70 of its stores in light of an anticipated takeover bid by William Morrison, according to a report in The Times of London.

IRVING, Texas - Minyard Food Stores Inc. and Genpass Inc., the second largest ATM driver in the U.S., jointly announced today the addition of Minyard's 72 stores to the MoneyPass Surcharge-Free Network.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Fresh Brands Inc. today announced that the company and its chief executive officer, Elwood F. Winn, have agreed to mutually end their relationship to allow Winn to pursue other opportunities. Fresh Brands initiated a national search for a new c.e.o.