Research & Analysis

WILMINGTON, Del. - The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will organize and host a 5 A Day Foodservice Summit on July 23, 2004, immediately prior to the PMA Foodservice Conference, Tours, and Expo in Monterey, Calif.

INDIANAPOLIS - Union negotiators and Kroger officialsagreed to an indefinite contract extension late Tuesday, averting a possible strike by 4,000 grocery workers in central Indiana, according to an Associated Press report.

MINNEAPOLIS - Supervalu, Inc. today announced that its Advantage Logistics operation will provide third-party logistical services for the Kroger Co.'s dry grocery distribution center in Denver. Today's announcement is part of an earlier transaction, which included the sale of four Cub Foods stores and the Aurora distribution center to Kroger.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Supermarkets will be getting additional competition in fruit and gift baskets this holiday season from Sears, Roebuck and Co., which will be offering products from Harry and David and A.K.A. Gourmet at its www.sears.com Web site.

LAS VEGAS - The next Dollar Store Expo, to be held June 16 to 17 here, will feature a "Food Pavilion" show within a show, along with items priced up to $5 to reflect the changing nature of the dollar store industry.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Sam's Club division of Wal-Mart Stores here is hoping to get a jump start on the Christmas shopping season -- and the competition -- by holding an "open house" in its membership clubs this weekend.

LOS ANGELES - A federal mediator is expected to meet today with leaders of the union representing 70,000 Southern California grocery workers and executives from three supermarket chains in their first talks since the beginning of a month-old strike and lockout, Reuters reports.

MONTREAL - Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada's largest grocery chain, on Thursday reported a 16 percent rise in third-quarter profit, and said it planned to sell more non-food items as it moved ahead with expansion plans, Reuters reports.