Center Store

NATICK, Mass. - BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. yesterday said it has made several changes in merchandising personnel. Brian Riccio has been promoted to s.v.p., general merchandise manager of fresh food; Jim Hilson has been promoted to v.p. of global sourcing; and Ross Medeiros has joined the company as v.p., divisional merchandise manager of fresh food, the position formerly held by Riccio.

STELLARTON, Nova Scotia ¿ Sobeys, Inc., Canada's No. 2 supermarket chain, reported yesterday an increase in second-quarter profit that fell short of analysts¿ expectations, and acknowledged the need for continuous cost-cutting in such a highly competitive market.

TORONTO - Store brand beverage maker Cott named Robert Flaherty, an 18-year veteran of the beverage industry, as president of its Tampa, Fla.-based U.S. business unit as of Jan. 3. He was also named an e.v.p. of Cott.

KIRKLAND, Wash. ¿ Larry¿s Markets here plans to roll out a perishables management system for bakeries in each of its six stores by the New Year.

CALGARY, Alta. - Canada Safeway, Ltd., a division of Safeway, Inc., has selected Ginger Beef Corp. to provide bulk "ready-to-heat" Chinese food products in the grocery chain's newly modernized Lifestyle locations as Canada Safeway continues upgrading and expanding its existing store base.

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.

MILWAUKEE - Roundy's is rolling out a new policy requiring employees at all of the company's grocery stores to check the identifications of anyone seeking to purchase alcohol or tobacco -- no matter how old the consumer appears.

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.