Center Store

SUNBURY, Pa. - Weis Markets opened a new-design 53,712-square-foot superstore Saturday in Honeygo Village Center in White Marsh, Md.

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Shaw's Supermarkets workers Saturday voted to ratify two four-year contracts that were agreed to late last week by the grocer and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791 with the help of a federal mediator, on the final day of a five-day extension of an expired three-year contract. At issue were salary and health care concerns for about 6,000 employees.

CHICAGO - The non-alcoholic beverage market is expected to reach $79 billion by the end of 2004, registering an increase of 20 percent during 1999 to 2004, according to a new report from Mintel. By 2009, the market could be worth $98.2 billion, the report suggests.

NEW YORK - Grocers' cross-channel competitors offered a mixed bag of July sales reports, with warehouse clubs riding fuel price hikes to the stronger results, while other discounters delivered softer performances in the month.

BOULDER, Colo. - Increased direct-store expenses and softer-than-expected sales in the second quarter led to a drop in Wild Oats Markets, Inc.'s second-quarter net income, the company said in an earnings conference call yesterday morning.

NEW YORK - Product innovations, convenience, and healthy lifestyles may juice up fruit product sales, according to a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts.

CINCINNATI - After launching its Signature Collection online and through phone orders in September 2003, Procter & Gamble's Millstone Coffee brand is introducing two of these specialty coffees to be sold at grocery and retail stores throughout the country starting this fall.

COMPTON, Calif. - An internal company memo has revealed that, in a possible violation of federal law, Ralphs let locked-out employees work during the nearly five-month Southern California labor dispute.