Research & Analysis

CHICAGO - Sara Lee Corporation announced on Wednesday that its board of directors has elected Richard A. Noll to senior VP of the corporation, effective immediately.

AMSTERDAM - Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV said Thursday that its US Foodservice unit has signed an agreement to purchase St. Louis, Missouri-based food distributor Allen Foods.

SHENZHEN, China - European customers of global food retailer Carrefour would be appalled to find a snake in their shopping trolley, but in China, foreign supermarket operators competing for a slice of the country's booming retail market have found that appealing to local tastes is necessary.

MONTVALE, N.J. - A&P is planning to convert most of its supermarkets in the United States to the Food Basics banner, according to published reports.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Hain Celestial Group Inc., the maker of natural foods such as Terra Chips vegetable snacks, said on Monday it has acquired privately held non-dairy beverage company Imagine Foods Inc.

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - UCCnet announced on Tuesday that Midwestern food retailer Hy-Vee will begin implementing the organization's item registration and data synchronization services.

DAYVILLE, Conn. - United Natural Foods Inc., the leading national distributor of natural and organic foods, on Tuesday announced that Steven H. Townsend has been appointed president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2003.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Supermarket chain Lowes Foods has launched a print campaign targeted to Hispanics in select North Carolina regions. A rollout to other markets is anticipated in 2003.