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At Bloom, Food Lion's new concept for the future, putting customers first means turning several retail rules upside down.

CHICAGO - Recent consumer research, media reports, and food industry watchers have been questioning the longevity of the low-carb trend, but new sales data reported in Information Resources, Inc.'s latest Times & Trends report, "Carb-Cutting Shoppers," suggest that the popularity of cutting carbs has not yet waned.

SKOKIE, Ill. - Topco Associates, LLC, a member-owned cooperative based here, has appointed Rob O'Rourke as its new v.p. - produce. In this role, O'Rourke will oversee the development, management, and growth of Topco's produce program and will report directly to Jeff Posner, Topco's e.v.p. and chief procurement officer.

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has pledged to ensure that country of origin labeling "is implemented as Congress intended," according to a position paper on the Kerry-Edwards 2004 Campaign Web site.

WASHINGTON - The government-appointed Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on Friday proposed its new federal dietary guidelines, which are issued every five years and form the basis of the food pyramid.

HOUSTON - The Grocers Supply Co., Inc., a regional distributor based here, announced yesterday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding stock of Fiesta Mart, Inc., a Texas chain that it has supplied since 1972.

TORONTO - Longo Brothers Fruit Markets, Inc. (Longo's), an Ontario, Canada-based family-run independent grocer, has taken over operations of online grocer Grocery Gateway, Inc., and plans to acquire its retail grocery business.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - e-FoodSafety.com, Inc., a firm that provides methods and products to ensure the safety of fruits, vegetables, and meats, has appointed Michael D. Yingst to its senior management team. Yingst is the director of sales for the Ozone Safe Food division of eFoodSafety.com and will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the company's custom ozone equipment.