Nonfoods

MELVILLE, N.Y. - The Hain Celestial Group, a natural and organic food company, has acquired privately held Acirca Inc., owner of the Walnut Acres brand of organic fruit juices, soups, pasta sauces and salsas.

SAN YSIDRO, Calif. - Albertsons is bringing its Hispanic format, full-service Super Saver store to the San Diego area.

MINNEAPOLIS - Grocery distributor Supervalu on Friday confirmed it now supplies 31 SuperTarget stores located in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Target recently canceled a distribution deal with one of its former food suppliers, Fleming Cos., which in April filed for bankruptcy.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons Inc. on Thursday reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the fiscal first quarter, citing intense competition and the weak economy.

PITTSBURGH - Numico NV, the Dutch food group parent of General Nutrition Centers here said today it is asking for informal bids from selected potential buyers to test what price it could expect from any sale.

RICHMOND, Va. - Bobby Ukrop, president and CEO of regional supermarket retailer Ukrop's, on Monday announced that the company will invest $40 million to open four new stores in Richmond, Va. in the next two years.

SALISBURY, N.C. - On June 5, in communities across the country, people will gather to focus the nation's attention on the problem of domestic hunger and its impact on the nation's children.

LONDON - U.K. retailer J. Sainsbury PLC said Monday that Shell U.K. Limited and Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited plan to expand their joint fuel and convenience store operation at 100 existing Shell locations across the U.K.