Market Trends

WASHINGTON - The obesity epidemic in America may soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of preventable deaths, Surgeon General David Satcher warned today. He looked to schools, the fast-food industry and communities to eat healthier and exercise more.

NEW YORK - A price war among U.S. supermarkets could be on the horizon after industry leader Kroger Co. recently signaled it is modeling its business on Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Reuters reports.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc. today confirmed northern California is a strategic market for the company's future growth.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Penn Traffic Company today announced earnings for the third quarter (the 13-week period ended Nov. 3, 2001). Adjusted EBITDA was $24.5 million, an increase of 13.0 percent over the prior year's adjusted $21.7 million level.

CHICAGO and QUINCY, Mass. - Online grocer Peapod Inc., and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced on Monday that they have entered into an assurance with the Massachusetts Attorney General and have agreed to compensate certain Boston-area customers who shopped with Peapod during an eight-month period in 1999, when customer communications may have unintentionally caused confusion regarding Peapod's local pricing.

MANILA - The Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), a joint venture between beer giant San Miguel Corp. and The Coca-Cola Co., said today it was eyeing deals with Swiss food firm Nestle S.A. and Walt Disney to expand its non-carbonated drinks line, Reuters reports.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. today reported earnings of $0.32 per diluted share, excluding costs related to a merger and one-time expenses, for the third quarter endedNov. 10, 2001. These results represent an increase of 14.3% over the third quarter of 2000, on the same basis.

NEW YORK - Dutch supermarkets group Koninklijke Ahold NV was given approval from the Federal Trade Commission on Friday to buy Bruno's Supermarkets Inc., but the company was told it must close two of its own regional groceries stores in two Georgia towns, Reuters reports.