Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

TRENTON, N.J. - Raising cigarette taxes will only lead to broader tax increases across all categories, according to the Enough Already Coalition, a group of New Jersey convenience store operators, retail trade associations, and tobacco companies.

NEW YORK - The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit today affirmed the U.S. District Court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Philip Morris USA's Retail Leaders merchandising program.

CARTERET, N.J. and TORRANCE, Calif.- Pathmark Stores Inc. has signed on with Agribuys Inc., a leading provider of supply chain management software and services targeted specifically for the fresh foods industry, to use Fresh Foods Link.

INDIANAPOLIS - Marsh Supermarkets has begun offering online coupons at its Web site, www.marsh.net. The coupons are being provided through SmartSource Interactive Group.

CHICAGO - McDonald's Corp. on Thursday became the first major fast-food chain to ask its meat suppliers to phase out the routine use of growth-promoting antibiotics in animals.

MILAN, Ill. - Eagle Food Centers Inc., which owns and operates 59 supermarkets in Illinois and Iowa, announced today that it will commence a sale of substantially all of the assets of its operating units through competitive bidding procedures under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

MINNEAPOLIS - Grocery distributor Supervalu on Friday confirmed it now supplies 31 SuperTarget stores located in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Target recently canceled a distribution deal with one of its former food suppliers, Fleming Cos., which in April filed for bankruptcy.

WASHINGTON - The Securities and Exchange Commission has requested information from top supermarket chains on how they account for payments from vendors, according to published reports.