Nonfoods

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.

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".

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.

Kmart has been pressuring some of its suppliers to give it cash back and make other concessions to help its own bottom line, according to The New York Times.

Vitasoy USA, producer and marketer of soy beverages and tofu, has announced the appointment of Thomas Osetek to president and CEO.

IGA, the global supermarketer, recently presented two prestigious awards to retailers for overall performance and international excellence.

A group of House Democrats has introduced legislation granting federal officials broad new authority to inspect food and close American ports in an attempt to reduce the likelihood that intentionally contaminated food will enter the US.

Acirca Inc., maker of Walnut Acres ready-to-eat organic soup, announced on Thursday it has acquired ShariAnn's Organics, the second largest ready-to-eat certified organic soup company in the United States.

GlobalNetXchange, the leading global business-to-business online marketplace for the retail industry, on Wednesday announced that members of the exchange have conducted 580 auctions worth $500 million in the third quarter alone.

The Worldwide Retail Exchange (WWRE) on Thursday announced the commercial launch of the WWRE Collaborative Planner, version 2.0, to all 58 Exchange members and their trading partners.

Coinstar Inc. on Thursday announced the appointment of David Cole as its new chief executive officer. Cole brings more than 30 years of leadership, operations, and sales management experience to Coinstar.

Acirca Inc. announced on Wednesday it has acquired Mountain Sun, the number one brand of certified organic juice in the United States.