Large Chains

MONTREAL - Leading Canadian convenience store operator, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., said this week that its next acquisition would be in the United States, Reuters reports.

LOS ANGELES -- Smart & Final Inc. today reported it has completed the previously announced divestitures of its foodservice direct delivery business units and its Florida stores, to reposition the company's focus on its core western U.S. store operations.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Fresh Brands Inc. on Friday announced that the company and its chief financial officer, Pat Plumley, have agreed to end their relationship. The company said the cessation of the relationship is not related to any accounting or financial issues.

MILAN, Ill. - Milan, Ill.-based Eagle Food Centers Inc., which owns and operates supermarkets in Illinois and Iowa, announced this week that Albertsons emerged as the successful bidder for five of its stores.

TUCSON, Ariz. - Four supermarket chains will be honored during this weekend's annual Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy for their efforts at raising substantial funds to find a cure for the disease.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- Fresh Brands, Inc. announced that Richard C. Taggart has been named president and c.e.o. of its Dick's Supermarkets, Inc. subsidiary. Taggart succeeds Robert Brodbeck, who has resigned for personal reasons.

Zaandam, The Netherlands -- Ahold has reached an agreement to sell Golden Gallon, its fuel and merchandise convenience store operation in the southeastern United States, to The Pantry, Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

MILAN, Ill. - The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois has approved Eagle Food Centers' two separate purchase agreements for certain assets related to three of its stores to Hy-Vee and one store to J.B. Sullivan Inc.