Market Trends

November Retail Sales Weakest in Decade
NEW YORK - U.S. retailers reported the weakest sales growth for November since the recession of 1990, Reuters reports.
Sobeys to Divest its Foodservice Operations and Form Alliance With Sysco
STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA and TORONTO, ONTARIO - Sobeys Inc., Canada's second largest retail grocer and distributor, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its SERCA foodservice operations to SYSCO Corporation, the largest foodservice marketing and distribution company in North America.

Albertson's Sales Increase in Third Quarter

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc., the No. 2 U.S. supermarket chain, today reported sales of $9.4 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 1, 2001, a 4.1 percent increase vs. the prior year.
Tyco Healthcare Buys Diaper Maker

NORCROSS, Ga. - Tyco International said today its health care division is buying Paragon Trade Brands Inc., the largest generic maker of disposable diapers in the United States and Canada, for $565 million, The Associated Press reports.
Marsh Supermarkets Reports Second Quarter Operations Income Up 47 Percent

INDIANAPOLIS - Marsh Supermarkets Inc. on Tuesday reported results of operations for the 16 weeks ended October 13, 2001.
UK's Safeway Ends Online Shopping Trial

LONDON - British supermarket group Safeway Plc is terminating its online order and collect shopping service, Reuters reported today.
Ahold Third Quarter Net Earnings Rise 28.3%

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold, the international food retail and food service company, today released third quarter 2001 net earnings of Euro 333.1 million, an increase of 28.3% from the third quarter in 2000. Sales rose 12.6% to Euro 15.5 billion, and operating earnings increased by 21.7% to Euro 667.2 million.
Tesco Sees Strong Sales Growth in Third Quarter

LONDON - Tesco, the UK's leading supermarket group, said total group sales rose 12.2% in the 14 weeks to November 17, the Financial Times reported today.
Winn-Dixie Considers Warehouse Stores in Atlanta

ATLANTA - Winn-Dixie may turn at least some of its 40 metro Atlanta locations into Save Rite warehouse stores as Cub Foods closes its Georgia stores, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported.
Pollio Recalls Cheese Products on Salmonella Concern

MINEOLA, N.Y. - Pollio Italian Cheese Company on Friday recalled certain Polly-O ricotta cheese packages and some foodservice ricotta products because of potential contamination from Salmonella bacteria.

November Retail Sales Weakest in Decade

Sobeys to Divest its Foodservice Operations and Form Alliance With Sysco

Albertson's Sales Increase in Third Quarter

Tyco Healthcare Buys Diaper Maker

Marsh Supermarkets Reports Second Quarter Operations Income Up 47 Percent

UK's Safeway Ends Online Shopping Trial

Ahold Third Quarter Net Earnings Rise 28.3%

Tesco Sees Strong Sales Growth in Third Quarter

Winn-Dixie Considers Warehouse Stores in Atlanta

Pollio Recalls Cheese Products on Salmonella Concern