Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

MILWAUKEE - Roundy's, Inc. here said yesterday it will close its Eldorado, Ill. and Evansville, Ind. distribution centers, both of which service independent grocery operators in the southern half of those states as well as in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. The closures will reportedly result in the loss of 252 jobs.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. - Retailers have a new month of recognition to add to their merchandising calendars, as the Low Carb Manufacturers Alliance (LCMA) kicks off its first-ever "Low Carb Month" promotion in January 2005.

TORONTO - CoolBrands International Inc., a leader in the consumer products and franchising segments of the frozen dessert industry, said yesterday that it had acquired from Parmalat the Kinnet Dairy DSD ice cream distribution business located mainly in Georgia, with additional distribution coverage in parts of Alabama and South Carolina.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons, Inc. said yesterday that it has completed the rollout of a new dollar zone concept in all 2,500 of its food and drug stores in 37 states, covering all banners, among them Jewel-Osco, Acme, Albertsons-Osco, Albertsons-Sav-on, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, Super Saver, Shaw's, and Star Market.

LONDON - Leading U.K. food retailer Tesco PLC has selected the Retalix BackOffice solution for installation in all Tesco stores in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration issued rules last week prohibiting nervous system tissue and other cattle parts from being used in human food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, according to published reports.

MEXICO CITY - The Federal Competition Commission, Mexico's antitrust agency, gave its conditional approval late last week for three of the nation's biggest retailers to merge some operations in their battle to wrest profits from mighty Wal-Mart de Mexico (Walmex).

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Altoona, Pa.-based convenience store chain Sheetz, Inc. has entered into a licensing agreement with KSS Ltd., a global supplier of pricing systems, for KSS' PriceStrat merchandise pricing and promotions solution.