Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ¿ Ingles Markets, Inc. here said yesterday it is the subject of an informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the accounting for a vendor contract it entered into in 2002.

WASHINGTON - On the heels of controversial statements about the safety of the food supply made by outgoing U.S. Secretary Of Health And Human Services Tommy Thompson last Friday, the federal government announced new rules aimed at helping trace the source of contaminated food, particularly in the event of a bioterrorist attack on the nation¿s food supply.

WASHINGTON - Audits by the Food Marketing Institute's Safe Quality Food (SQF) program will now provide consumers and retailers with an extra measure of protection through a new technology partnership with Steton, a global leader in food safety and quality assurance software.

TYLER, Texas - Brookshire Grocery Co. has deployed an automated system to manage the discount and rebate processes of its large suppliers, including Kraft Foods, General Mills, and Procter and Gamble.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons, Inc.¿s third quarter performance, released yesterday, paints the picture of a chain back on track financially after the setbacks of last year's protracted strike/lockout in Southern California, as well as the impacts of a series of destructive hurricanes in Florida.

WARRENSVILLE HTS., Ohio - Heinen¿s Fine Foods, a family owned and operated business with 15 stores in the Cleveland area, has tapped Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Trax Retail Solutions for its ShrinkTrax and DM2 data mining solutions for Loss Prevention.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mi Pueblo Food Centers has completed a rapid implementation of TCI HQ, with data converted on the first day and staff fully trained by the end of the week.

Having finally broken the cookie-cutter mold, Food Lion's management is building its future on a lot more than just price.