Convenience Stores

CHICAGO -- Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge, La. and Tree of Life are the latest grocery distributors to sign partnerships with Chicago-based InXpo, a producer of online trade shows, as more companies supplement, enhance, or replace their bricks-and-mortar selling shows with online trade shows.

WATFORD, England -- International food and grocery expert IGD yesterday released its 'Ten to Watch' list of outstanding food retailers the world over, and the ranking included two U.S. food retailers, Whole Foods and Wegmans.

NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. here today posted net income of $15.4 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter ended April 29, a decline of 17 percent from the year-ago period, when the company reported net income of $18.6 million, or 27 cents per diluted share. In a conference call yesterday the company's acting c.f.o., Frank Forward, cited such factors as continued soft traffic and general merchandise trends and rapidly rising gas prices for the downturn.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Price Chopper here is opening a 37,000-square-foot Price Chopper Super Center at the Champlain Shopping Plaza in Champlain, N.Y. The store is the Northeast regional grocer's 113th location.

COLTON, Calif. -- Regional independent Stater Bros. Friday presented a check for $156,210.24 to the Children's Fund of San Bernardino County to assist abused and at-risk children.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Tom Berg has been promoted to v.p. of business development at Spartan Stores here. Since coming to Spartan in May 1980, Berg, most recently director of new business development has held various positions in the general merchandise, corporate brands, and marketing departments.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the fourth time in less than two years, Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle is reducing prices by 15 percent on some 4,000 items on a market-specific basis here.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Supermarket operators in Ohio, take heed: Six Wal-Mart Supercenters are coming to a neighborhood near you on May 17. The stores are located near Cincinnati (Forest Park and Fairfield Township), Springfield, Bowling Green, and Upper Sandusky. Three of the stores are new facilities, and three are expanded or relocated stores.