Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The 7th Annual Food Safety Summit and Expo will focus on the latest developments in protecting the nation's food supply from being compromised by any potential food safety or food security incidents, including everything from E-coli to Salmonella, to intentional contamination by terrorists.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kroger, Publix, and 14 other supermarket chains have joined forces with major organic food brands to launch an unprecedented $1 million marketing campaign, called "Go Organic! For Earth Day," this April, designed to drive mainstream consumer awareness, in-store traffic, and sales for organic food.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In a move that one analyst called a "great American business tragedy," Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. succumbed to pressures of tightening trade credit from vendors, credit downgrades, and increased losses, and filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code late Monday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Executives at Ruddick Corp., the parent company of supermarket chain Harris Teeter, acknowledged last week at their annual shareholders meeting that competitive pressures will make it hard to replicate the company's successful performance of 2004.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Now through March 15, all Food Lion stores in North Carolina are conducting the "Shop & Care" campaign to support Easter Seals-United Cerebral Palsy of North Carolina.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Legislation currently under consideration here would allow Washington state grocery stores measuring more than 12,000 square feet to offer shoppers free two-ounce samples of beer and wine, something only specialty stores can do now.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Ingles Markets, Inc. yesterday confirmed its fiscal 2004 results, following a preliminary report the company released several weeks ago. Net income at the regional chain based here reached $28.8 million, or $1.22 per share, for the fiscal year ended Sept. 25, 2004 -- the highest net income in its 41-year history and a 69 percent increase over its net income of $17.0 million for fiscal 2003.

NEW YORK -- ACNielsen Homescan director Gary Crisafulli and Joe Pilotta, v.p. of research for Worthington, Ohio-based BIGreserach, are among the speakers who will head up the educational portion of Dollar Summit V, in April, convened by Retail Merchandiser. Both Retail Merchandiser and Progressive Grocer are owned by VNU Business Media.