Research & Analysis

AMSTERDAM/NEW YORK - A probe into a damaging accounting scandal at Dutch retail giant Ahold will lay the blame on just a few middle managers at its U.S. Foodservice unit, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Leading natural and specialty foods marketer and distributor Tree of Life Inc. has announced a strategic realignment designed to keep pace with increases in demand for its products and unprecedented consolidation among its retail customers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has announced its plans to promote Frank Lazaran to the positions of CEO and president. Lazaran, currently COO of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supermarket company, is scheduled to assume his new positions on June 26, 2003.

TUCSON, Ariz. - TCI Solutions Inc., a provider of enterprise software for grocery chains, announced that Hiller's has installed TCI HQ in its corporate headquarters to enhance e-business interactions with its vendor community.

AMSTERDAM - Troubled supermarket and food service company Royal Ahold NV ended its two-month search for a new chairman and chief executive Friday, naming a former Ikea International CEO to the job.

AKRON, Ohio - Bolognue Management Co., based here, will sell six of its Giant Eagle franchises outright to the Pittsburgh-based food retailer.

LONDON - The UK Competition Commission inquiry into the sale of Safeway will be extended to include the impact upon convenience stores, the commission said on Thursday.

Huge increases in health insurance costs--the industry's No. 1 problem--have grocers desperately seeking ways to ease the pain.