Research & Analysis

SEATTLE - A woman whose family reportedly ate ground beef connected with the only detected case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United States has filed a class action against a supermarket chain, the Associated Press reports.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and SAN DIEGO, Calif. - NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit company specializing in public health and safety risk management solutions, has acquired Quality Assurance International, Inc., which offers organic certification services.

WASHINGTON - The food and beverage industry is committed to helping reverse the growth of obesity, the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) testified on Tuesday before a Senate hearing on combating obesity in America.

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opens its first California supercenter today, bracing local food retailers for heated competition following the longest running supermarket strike.

MINNEAPOLIS - Retailer and distributor Nash Finch Company late Tuesday announced the resignation of Jerry L. Nelson, its president and chief operating officer. In a press release, Nelson said "the time is right" to do something different, but did not announce his immediate plans.

NATICK, Mass. - BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. announced today that its quarterly earnings increased due to solid January sales and high gasoline prices, Reuters reports. Additionally, the company predicted better-than-expected earnings for the current year and posted strong February sales.

Washington - Online auction site eBay has implemented a number of new policies for the resale of coupons on its site, which are designed to reduce the possibility of abuse while improving the efficiency of the secondary market, the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have announced.

MINNEAPOLIS - Grocery workers have ratified a new three-year contract with three major area supermarket chains that allows modest salary increases and doesn't require union members to pay health care premiums, according to the Associated Press.