Research & Analysis

LONDON - Retailer Marks & Spencer PLC today announced it is abandoning plans to sell its U.S. chain, Kings Super Markets, because of the current economic climate.

MILAN, Ill. - Milan, Ill.-based Eagle Food Centers Inc., which owns and operates supermarkets in Illinois and Iowa, said on Wednesday that it has signed two separate purchase agreements with Hy-Vee and J.B. Sullivan Inc. for the assets of four of its stores.

ATLANTA -- Atlanta-based NCR Corp. announced that grocery wholesaler Roundy's, Inc. plans to install NCR's FastLane self-checkout solution in two of its supermarket chains.

MIAMI -- Coca-Cola Co. is offering Burger King restaurant operators more than $21 million in response to allegations that Coke employees rigged a beverage marketing test at the fast-food outlets, The Associated Press reports.

WASHINGTON - New facsimile transmission rules being considered by the Federal Communications Commission could severely impact the way grocery wholesalers do business, said Food Marketing Institute president and CEO Tim Hammonds in a letter sent to FCC chairman Michael K. Powell on Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS - Supervalu on Sunday announced that it has signed a letter of intent with C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., for certain assets that C&S may purchase from Fleming Companies.

MADISON, Wis. -- Kitchens across America will be filled with the delectable scent of homemade pizza on Friday nights this fall as a result of a major joint promotion between Wisconsin cheese, Fleischmann's Yeast, Jimmy Dean sausage, and Pillsbury flour.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands -- Royal Ahold here said today that its consolidated sales for the second quarter ended July 12 were Euro 13.0 billion, a decline of 12.4 percent, compared with the Euro 14.8 billion reported for the same period in 2002.