Market Trends

Starbucks Coffee International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks Coffee Company, has signed a joint-venture agreement with two leading retail companies in Madrid and Barcelona to enter the Spanish market.

McLane Company Inc., a Temple, Texas-based grocery and food distributor, and Marsh Supermarkets Inc, a leading regional grocery chain, announced on Friday the completion of McLane Company's acquisition of the assets of Convenience Store Distributing Company (CSDC), including the company's Richmond, Indiana distribution center.

QRS Corporation, provider of global sourcing and supply chain management solutions for the retail industry, on Friday announced the availability of a new service for the grocery industry.

Albertson's Inc. announced that Kathy J. Herbert, 48, has been named Executive Vice President - Human Resources, reporting directly to Larry Johnston, Chairman and CEO.

The Worldwide Retail Exchange (WWRE) on Thursday announced the commercial launch of the WWRE Collaborative Planner, version 2.0, to all 58 Exchange members and their trading partners.

Former Furrs Supermarkets Inc. employees are spreading word to one another to attend a court hearing Thursday to protest that they have not received promised severance pay. In a separate action, union officials filed a motion Sept. 21 asking the court to direct Furrs to make the payments.

Coinstar Inc. on Thursday announced the appointment of David Cole as its new chief executive officer. Cole brings more than 30 years of leadership, operations, and sales management experience to Coinstar.

CLEMENTON, N.J., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ShopRite announced today that the revised contract proposal they had presented to UFCW Local 1360 was rejected without review by union membership. The contracts between ShopRite and the Local expired in March/April and the parties continued to operate under an extension while they negotiated. On September 6, 2001 the union called for a work stoppage.