Nonfoods

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids, Mich.-based distributor and retailer Spartan Stores, Inc. on Wednesday said net sales increased 2.3 percent to $502.0 million in its fiscal first quarter ending June 21, 2003, compared with the same period last year.

WASHINGTON -- Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, and Brooks Drugs have agreed to participate in upcoming studies to measure the effectiveness of in-store advertising and the placement of product displays in drug stores. The studies are being conducted by Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), the nonprofit trade association of the at-retail marketing industry.

CHICAGO -- Kellogg Co. is considering reformulating some of its products, especially Keebler cookies, to reduce fat content, its chief executive officer told Reuters on Monday.

MONTREAL - CoolBrands International Inc., the third-largest ice-cream company in the United States, today said it acquired a majority stake in U.S. frozen dessert manufacturer Americana Foods LP.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., yesterday introduced the Health Nutrition for America's Children's Act that looks at new ways to expand the popular USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program to all 50 states.

CHICAGO -- Transora, a provider of data synchronization solutions to the consumer products industry, today announced that the Transora Data Synchronization Network (TDSN) Data Synchronization Service 3.2 is now available and that beta testing for UCCnet's release 2.2 is well underway.

CHICAGO -- The growing appeal of store brands, with their modest marketing and packaging, have been giving national players like Kraft a run for their money, reports Reuters.

NEW YORK - New York grocer Gristede's Foods said late last week it will pay $120 million for the upscale Kings Super Markets chain, contingent upon it selling $150 million in senior notes on the bond market, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.