Market Trends

PHOENIX, Arizona - Southwest Supermarkets, a private company based in Phoenix, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and hopes to sell 23 of its 32 stores to Bashas', The Arizona Republic reported today.

LOS ANGELES - Smart & Final Inc., operators of warehouse-style stores and two foodservice distribution companies, on Monday reported earnings of $0.18 per diluted share for the 16-week third quarter ended Oct. 7, 2001, compared to earnings of $0.14 per diluted share in the third quarter of the prior year, an increase of 29% in per share results.

MINNEAPOLIS - International Multifoods Corp. today announced two additions to its senior management team: Dan C. Swander as president and chief operating officer, and Daryl Schaller, Ph.D., as vice president of research and development.

WASHINGTON - The Food Marketing Institute and The National Council of Chain Restaurants on Monday announced a collaboration on efforts to further develop and support industry policies and programs to strengthen animal welfare and food quality.

TEL AVIV - Super-Sol Ltd., Israel's leading supermarket chain, today reported record revenues and profits for the third quarter of 2001.

NEW YORK - Online retailing is expected to fare only about as well or as poorly as the retail economy as a whole during the Christmas season, The New York Times reported today. That stands in contrast to a steady growth since 1998, when online sales kept surging despite less favorable economic trends or even normal seasonal patterns.

NEW YORK - The bottled water market is currently experiencing a period of pronounced growth that shows little sign of slowing, according to a report by MarketResearch.com.

GUATEMALA, Costa Rica, The Netherlands - Paiz Ahold, the 50/50 joint venture of food retailers La Fragua and Ahold in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, has signed an agreement with Costa Rican supermarket and hypermarket company CSU to form a new joint venture, bringing together all of their operations in the Central American region.