Research & Analysis

COMPTON, Calif. - Arden Group Inc., parent company of Gelson's Markets, said its first-quarter earnings more than tripled as it gained customers during the California supermarket strike and lockout, reports the Los Angeles Times.

PLOVER, Wis. - A steering committee representing independent food brokers has met to officially form a new division of the National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS).

WASHINGTON - Ahold-owned Giant Food of Landover, Md. laid off 270 administrative employees last week in another effort to consolidate operations with Quincy, Mass.-based sister company Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., a spokesman told the Washington Post.

BRYAN, Ohio and BARCELONA, Spain - The worldwide leader in lollipops, Chupa Chups, SA, Barcelona, and one of the U.S. category leaders, Spangler Candy Company, announced that they have formed an alliance to join their experience and portfolios to strengthen their role in the North American candy market.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. today cut its earnings forecast by 10 percent in its first profit warning since going public four years ago, citing the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets as a negative factor.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Birds Eye Foods, Inc., the nation's leader in manufacturing and marketing frozen vegetables and a major processor of other food products, said it intends to implement across-the-board price increases on all product categories, including store brands, effective June 28, 2004. The increases are expected to be in the range of 5 percent to 7 percent.

SALISBURY, N.C. - Food Lion, LLC here today said it plans to open five pilot stores to test a new store concept, format, and brand name. The pilot stores, all scheduled to open by the end of 2004 in the Charlotte, N.C. area, will be named "Bloom, A Food Lion Market."

SIKESTON, Mo. - Food Giant Supermarkets, based here, has chosen TCI direct store delivery (DSD) and POS Exchange solutions -- in correlation with TCI store solutions -- for its 90 supermarkets.