Market Trends

William F. Christ, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Hershey Foods Corporation, today announced that Hershey do Brasil, Hershey Foods' Brazilian subsidiary, has acquired the chocolate and confectionery business of Visagis.

Fleming Companies Inc. today reported a 59.7 percent increase in second quarter 2001 net earnings to $22.4 million, or $0.46 per share, after adjustments to exclude strategic plan charges and one-time items, compared to$14.0 million, or $0.35 per share, in the second quarter of 2000. Second quarter adjusted operating earnings of $66.1 million increased 20.5 percent from $54.9 million in the prior year.

While some retailers have yet to embrace 3-D CAD technology, others are quickly becoming dependent on its ability to review colors, materials, fixtures, lighting programs, and even merchandising plans.

Unilever announced today that the sale of the Bestfoods Baking Company to George Weston Limited for $1.765 billion in cash has been completed.

Fleming today announced the company has been selected by L&L Food Centers to serve its 10 Lansing, Michigan area stores and Rochester Hills location. The supply arrangement is for all grocery, frozen, dairy, and general merchandise products. L&L F

Blue Book Services/Produce Reporter Co., provider of credit and marketing information to businesses involved in the wholesale fresh fruit and vegetable industry, on Tuesday announced the launch of its new Web Service interface. Designed and developed by Buyproduce, the new interface allows Blue Book customers to seamlessly and instantly retrieve time sensitive Blue Book data from virtually any application.

Nash Finch Company and U Save Foods, Inc. today confirmed that they are in discussions for Nash Finch to acquire U Save Foods through a purchase of U Save's stock.

A diverse group of antitrust experts, national consumer organizations and major farm groups have joined forces to announce their opposition to Nestle's $10.1 billion merger with Ralston Purina. If regulators approve the deal, Swiss-based Nestle would become the world's biggest pet food company and control roughly 45 percent of the $7 billion U.S. pet food market.