Research & Analysis

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced it has sold its Brazilian retail chain Bompreco to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Simultaneously, Ahold sold its Brazilian credit card operation Hipercard to Unibanco S.A.

LOS ANGELES - The United Food and Commercial Workers and Albertsons, Kroger Co. and Safeway settled on a tentative contract Thursday, after 16 straight days of negotiations.

ATLANTA - The Coca-Cola Co. yesterday promoted the head of the retail division of its key North American unit to run the entire unit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In the wake of Big Bear's close, discount grocer Aldi intends to move aggressively into the competitive central Ohio grocery market, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

BOULDER, Colo. - Wild Oats Markets, Inc. stock fell yesterday after the chain said earnings fell 68 percent, according to an AP report. The natural food retailer attributed the drop to supply chain changes, which offset a 14 percent rise in sales in the latest quarter.Shares of Wild Oats closed at $13.26, down $1.14, or 7.9 percent, on the Nasdaq.

NEW YORK - Nash Finch Co. a supermarket operator and wholesale food distributor, yesterday boosted its quarterly dividend to 13.5 cents per share from nine cents, according to Reuters.

TUCSON, Ariz. - Wild Oats Natural Marketplace here has begun offering biodegradable containers in its deli sections that resemble regular clear plastic made from petroleum products, but the tubs are really made from cornstarch that's said to break down in seven weeks if composted, the Arizona Daily Star reports..

WASHINGTON - Parmalat USA Corp., a unit of Parmalat Finanziaria SpA, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of New York today, listing assets and debts of at least $100 million each, Dow Jones Business News reports.