Nonfoods

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Doctors abandon their prescription pads for Internet scripts at Giant Food and Pharmacy.

WASHINGTON - Sixteen manufacturers and retailers joined the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Food Marketing Institute in urging the CPG industry to adopt the UCCnet data registry as the North America standard for electronic data sharing.

NEW YORK - Kroger Co. today said it reaffirmed its fiscal 2002 forecast of 10 percent to 12 percent earnings per share growth, helped by strong sales of high-margin private label food and household items, Reuters reports.

OAKBROOK, Ill. - Atlantic Baking Group Inc. (ABG) today announced two pending acquisitions that will propel the company toward its goal of becoming the industry-leading supplier of private label cookies and crackers.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Penn Traffic Company today announced that adjusted net income was $7.1 million or $0.35 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 compared to $5.3 million or $0.26 per share in the prior year.

Three major chains plan to save big with centralized perishables buying, but will their fresh departments start to look like clones?

LOS ANGELES - The produce industry is showing its concern for regulations that might be considered by Congress as part of food security legislation, the Los Angeles Times reports.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has announced a new strategic alliance with FoodTrack Inc., providing members with 24/7 food safety surveillance information.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - GMDC members are registering in increasing numbers for the 2002 GM Marketing Conference May 31-June 4 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Corporation is using a new multicultural marketing campaign including radio and television ads to try and fill a niche with African-American and Hispanic shoppers.

WASHINGTON, DC - Consumer products manufacturers are moving ahead with their plans to implement Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) initiatives, according to a study published by the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA).

PITTSBURGH - Supervalu Inc. has said it will close one of its distribution centers in southwestern Pennsylvania by late summer to be more cost-efficient, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.