Research & Analysis

DENVER - Unionized grocery workers and three food retailers -- King Soopers, Safeway, and Albertsons -- have agreed to extend their contract negotiations until Oct. 16, according to the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which brokered the agreement.

CARTERET, N.J. - Citing poor economic conditions and tougher competition, Pathmark Stores, Inc. yesterday reported a loss for its second-quarter and six-month period ended July 31, leading to a lowered earnings forecast and a stock dive of more than 16 percent.

LOS ANGELES - Marketers from several consumer packaged goods companies are among those engaging in the Ultimate Hispanic Market Immersion Tour in Los Angeles this weekend, a new forum that takes the learning out of the conference room and into the community.

WASHINGTON - The Senate Appropriations' Agriculture Subcommittee marked up its $16.73 billion fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill this week, which is more than half a billion below last year's funding levels.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. ¿ Farm Fresh Supermarkets, a Supervalu food retailer with 37 stores, will whoop it up during a three-day consumer food festival and entertainment event called the 25th annual Farm Fresh Extravaganza.

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. ¿ Supermarket and consumer goods marketing veteran Steve Michaelson told Progressive Grocer yesterday that he is set to apply the best practices from brick-and-mortar stars Wegmans and Weis Markets in his new role as president of FreshDirect, one of the nation's leading online fresh food manufacturing and delivery services.

PITTSBURGH - H.J. Heinz Co. will open an international research and technical facility in mid-2005 that will be home to the food maker's research and development operations and its quality assurance laboratories.

A.J's Finer Foods is helping shoppers keep it clean, and engaging in some innovative store-brand marketing at the same time.