Supermarket/Grocery

Dutch supermarkets group Koninklijke Ahold NV said on Friday it had agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against it by U.S. shareholders in its Internet grocery unit Peapod (NasdaqNM:PPOD - news).

Mott's Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based Cadbury Schweppes plc, announced on Tuesday it had agreed to acquire the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands and related assets from Eagle Family Foods Inc. for $128 million.

Sara Lee Corporation announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of The Earthgrains Company, the number-two player in the fresh bread category. The combined bakery operations of Sara Lee and Earthgrains, which will now be named the Sara Lee Bakery Group, together generate approximately $3.4 billion in annual sales.

Nash Finch Company on Monday announced its completed acquisition of U Save Foods Inc. through a purchase of U Save's capital stock. Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., U Save Foods was a privately-held company with 14 supermarkets operating in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.

Big V Supermarkets Inc. said on Thursday that it is reviewing its legal and strategic alternatives in light of the oral decision issued by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware denying Big V's request for a declaratory judgment that the company could withdraw from the Wakefern cooperative without incurring a financial penalty.

Whole Foods Market Inc. announced on Thursday it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Harry's Farmers Market Inc. for approximately $35 million in cash.

Fresh Brands Inc. on Thursday announced the opening of its new flagship Piggly Wiggly supermarket in Sheboygan, Wis., that will serve as a prototype for the company's future Piggly Wiggly stores and remodeling projects.

The WorldWide Retail Exchange, the premier business-to-business exchange for retailers and suppliers, today announced that Markant, the German-based services organization, has joined the Exchange as its newest charter member.