Research & Analysis

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - ACNielsen announced that its Web-based category management intelligence system, Category Business Planner (CBP), will soon include information from Raley's, a leading West Coast retailer. Raley's owns and operates Raley's Superstores, Bel Air Markets, and Nob Hill Foods.

LOS ANGELES - Citing the pressures of increased competition and added costs, Smart & Final Inc. reported a 40 percent fall in net income for the second quarter ended June 16. Income was $2.1 million versus $3.6 million in 2001's second quarter. Year-to-date, net income totaled $2.6 million, compared with $4.2 million during the same period last year.

NEW YORK - U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer PLC sold New Jersey-based Kings Super Markets to D'Agostino Supermarkets for $160 million in cash, Dow Jones reported.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. - Net income for the quarter ended June 30 at 99 Cents Only Stores rose 23.7 percent to $13.5 million compared to the year-earlier period.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart and Safeway were two of the most notable names among the many retailers nationwide affected by the second largest beef recall in history.

WASHINGTON - ConAgra Foods Inc. on Friday launched the nation's second-largest recall of ground beef after the U.S. Agriculture Department said the meat may be contaminated with a deadly bacteria that sickened at least 16 people, Reuters reported on Friday.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Wegmans Food Markets has adopted an everyday low price policy on 4,000 popular grocery items, and now the Rochester, N.Y.-based chain is getting the message out to its customers.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Marks & Spencer said Tuesday that the exclusivity period for Gristede's Foods to negotiate a definitive stock purchase agreement to acquire Kings Super Markets has ended without a deal being reached.