Nonfoods

SALISBURY, N.C. - Responding to an urgent need in flood-ravaged western North Carolina, Food Lion and its vendor partners are donating and delivering a truckload of cleaning supplies and food to an Asheville relief organization.

BOULDER, Colo. - Wild Oats Markets, Inc. yesterday said that Andre Halston has joined the company as v.p. of food service and corporate executive chef.

DENVER - America's beef producers have launched two new retailer-friendly tools to help meat department associates increase sales.

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES - Diversified Business Communications (DBC), organizer of Expo Comida Latina (ECL) -- the only major U.S.-based food and beverage trade show for Hispanic foods -- said yesterday that the show will expand to San Antonio, Texas in 2005.

RICHMOND, Va. - Performance Food Group says it is exploring strategic alternatives for its Salinas, Calif.-based Fresh Express produce division and has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to assist in the process.

DETROIT - Farmer Jack Food Markets, an operating unit of the Montvale, N.J.-based Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., has moved to the next step of freshness by asking customers to "Take the Fresh Challenge," which urges that if a customer finds a product in the store that is not fresh or is out of date, it will be replaced free.

PRINCETON, N.J. - Austin, Texas-based natural and organic foods retailer Whole Foods Market officially opens its doors today here with a 62,000 square foot store.

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for seafood is set to go into effect on Sept. 30 without any further rules published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a spokeswoman for the McLean, Va.-based National Fisheries Institute. Following are some questions and answers that NFI issued in its member bulletin.