Market Trends

WASHINGTON, DC - The supermarket industry posted its highest net profits in nearly three decades at 1.25 percent of sales, according to the Food Marketing Institute's 2000-2001 Annual Financial Review. Operating income, at 3.03 percent, was near the 10-year high of 3.05 percent.

KOKIE, Ill. -Private label procurers Topco Associates Inc. and Shurfine International Inc. on Monday announced that their respective shareholder groups have voted in favor of a proposed merger of the Shurfine International operations into those of Topco Associates Inc. The transaction, which will be achieved through the formation of a new company, Topco Associates LLC, is effective Nov. 1, 2001.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced its five Dutch subsidiaries are teaming up to offer a new joint Internet-based home delivery service called "Albert".

ShopRite has reached an agreement with UFCW Local 1360 that ends a seven-week strike that has effected 10 ShopRite stores in the New Jersey counties of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester. The members of Local 1360 voted on the contract in a meeting held Sunday evening, October 28.

Swiss food and beverages giant Nestle SA today expressed interest in taking full control of the Haagen-Dazs ice cream business by buying the 50 percent stake owned by its partner in the venture, Pillsbury Co., the Associated Press reported.

Workbrain Inc., a provider of Employee Relationship Management (ERM) solutions, today announced that C&S Wholesale Grocers has selected Workbrain ERM 3.0 to automate their time and attendance and incentive management process through one application.

Supervalu Inc. today announced advances in its extreme value retail strategy in its Southeast market with the acquisition of nine Save-A-Lot stores from former licensee Super Discount Markets Inc.

Britain's Safeway Plc reported strong second quarter sales on Thursday with like-for-like sales rising 5.4 percent, keeping the country's fourth biggest food retailer in the running among its top competitors.