Market Trends

AMSTERDAM -- Shares in the world's third biggest food retailer Royal Ahold NV fell sharply on Friday as disappointing U.S. sales figures and disclosure concerns combined to rattle already anxious investors.

MONTVALE, N.J. -- Based on successful tests in Passaic and Paterson, N.J., the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. is opening three additional no-frills supermarkets in North Jersey in the next month.

WASHINGTON -- The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) recently named Big Y Foods, Springfield, Mass., the winner of the first-ever Awards of Excellence competition, in recognition of the company's successful practices and accomplishments in human resources and training and development fields of the food retail industry.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fleming Companies c.e.o.Mark Hansen told analysts yesterday that there are a number of suitors interested in purchasing its Rainbow Foods chain, which operates 44 supermarkets in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A pharmacists' walkout that looked to be averted last month by Raley's Supermarkets could still happen as the pharmacists' union has failed to ratify a new contract, according to a report in today's Sacramento Bee.

HARRISBURG, Pa -- Gubernatorial candidate and former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell has received strong opposition to his proposal to move state-controlled liquor retail operations into supermarkets.

LANSING, Mich.-- Leaders of two Michigan retailer groups called a white paper issued by Attorney General Jennifer Granholm a "slap in the face to the retail industry."

PHILADELPHIA, -- Acme Markets, Inc., a unit of Albertsons, has purchased a prominent portion of the former Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and plans to erect a 50,000 sq. ft. combo store on the South Philly site. Food-drug combo stores, such as its Albertsons Sav-On and Jewel-Osco formats, form the Boise, Idaho-based chain's key strategy for growth.