Nonfoods

NEW YORK - In the first few weeks of 2002, health- and comfort-related items, such as diet products, exercise equipment and board games, experienced a surge in sales at Wal-Mart, Reuters reports.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold said today that its third worldwide promotion held last fall generated record sales.

BOULDER, Colo. - Natural and organic foods retailer Wild Oats Markets Inc. has made changes in its organizational structure to further strengthen its merchandising department.

WASHINGTON - Children still are choking to death from Asian-made jelly candies despite repeated recalls, a ban on imports and a move by major grocery chains to pull the dangerous sweets off the shelves, The Associated Press reports.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Safeway Inc. announced on Monday the formal launch of Safeway.com, the company's Internet grocery shopping and home delivery service, to consumers living in the Portland-metro and Vancouver, Wash. communities.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A father who brought $3.13 in change to buy milk, three jars of baby food and a newspaper at a Market Basket store in Portsmouth, N.H., was turned away by a cashier because of anthrax fears, The Associated Press reports.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc. announced on Monday that Terry Lee, an experienced food industry executive with strong credentials in private brand development, has joined the company as vice president, corporate brands.

NEW YORK - Poor neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets and food service offerings than wealthier areas, according to a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency that was recently published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Reuters reports.