Nonfoods

Supermarket sales rose 2 percent last year, a rate that notably lagged the gain of 2001 and underscored the significance of hard times and tough competition.

LONDON - British supermarket chain J. Sainsbury Plc on Monday made a big push into non-food retailing, following the example of many of its competitors.

New applications enable retailers to yield higher sales and greater returns on their packaging investments.

SHANGHAI -- The number of retail outlets in China has grown significantly in recent years, posing a challenge for retailers as they struggle with lower sales revenue per store, say ACNielsen officials, Dow Jones reports.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government on Wednesday went ahead with its plan to refashion its well-known Food Guide Pyramid to help chubby Americans eat less and exercise more, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - The Grocery Manufacturers of America will stress the importance of lowering trade-distorting tariffs and subsidies, and caution against including non-trade concerns such as geographical indications in trade negotiations at the Fifth World Trade Organization Ministerial this week.

LOS ANGELES - Hunger relief organization America's Second Harvest announced that Albertsons was selected as its Retailer of the Year.

BOISE, Idaho -- Office Depot, Inc., a Delray beach, Fla.-based reseller of office products, and Albertsons today announced a retailing agreement in which Office Depot initially will provide office and school supplies to 18 Albertsons stores in three markets (Chicago, Los Angeles, and Phoenix).