Market Trends

OMAHA, Neb. -- ConAgra Foods here reported today that is third quarter earnings were in line with expectations.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons acquired two Food4Less stores in Salt Lake City and two Rainbow stores in El Paso, Texas, from Fleming Cos., a move that the company says will boost its position in Utah and Texas.

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Albertsons will begin implementing UCCnet's item registration and data synchronization services for its more than 2,300 retail stores in 31 states nationwide, according to officials from both companies. UCCnet says Boise-based Albertsons is one of the first major U.S. food retailers to implement its registration and synchronization services.

LIVERMORE AND SANTA ANA, CALIF. - iTradeNetwork (ITN) has received a purchase order from Calavo Growers, Inc., a worldwide leader in packing and distributing of avocado, processed avocado, and other perishable food products.

MONTVALE, N.J. - After selling and closing more than two dozen stores while it seeks a new owner for its 8 O' Clock coffee subsidiary, A&P stands to gain more than $300 million if all goes as planned, according to a report in yesterday's Star-Ledger, a Newark, N.J. daily newspaper.

Walgreen Co. today announced record sales and earnings for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2003.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Earlier this year, Food Lion launched an aggressive streamlining initiative and announced $100 million in budget cuts through the elimination of redundancies and non-value added programs.

CHICAGO -- The impact of war with Iraq was already being felt in the U.S. farm belt this week with farmers facing soaring costs for oil-based fuel and fertilizers, analysts said.