Research & Analysis

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fleming Companies c.e.o.Mark Hansen told analysts yesterday that there are a number of suitors interested in purchasing its Rainbow Foods chain, which operates 44 supermarkets in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

HARRISBURG, Pa -- Gubernatorial candidate and former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell has received strong opposition to his proposal to move state-controlled liquor retail operations into supermarkets.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A pharmacists' walkout that looked to be averted last month by Raley's Supermarkets could still happen as the pharmacists' union has failed to ratify a new contract, according to a report in today's Sacramento Bee.

PHILADELPHIA, -- Acme Markets, Inc., a unit of Albertsons, has purchased a prominent portion of the former Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and plans to erect a 50,000 sq. ft. combo store on the South Philly site. Food-drug combo stores, such as its Albertsons Sav-On and Jewel-Osco formats, form the Boise, Idaho-based chain's key strategy for growth.

LANSING, Mich.-- Leaders of two Michigan retailer groups called a white paper issued by Attorney General Jennifer Granholm a "slap in the face to the retail industry."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Grocery Manufacturers of America today endorsed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's national organic program as a way to provide consumers with accurate labeling information about organic foods and ingredients.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va.--Supervalu's Farm Fresh supermarkets unit in Virginia has become the latest chain to offer irradiated ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s electron beam technology, SureBeam said.

SYRACUSE, N.Y -- The Penn Traffic Company hired industry veteran Mike Broomfield as its senior v.p. of retail stores. He will be responsible for the operations and financial results of all 216 Penn Traffic supermarkets in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.