Center Store

SAN FRANCISCO -- Heartland Soups, based here, and South San Francisco-based Marsha's Marvelous have entered into a strategic alliance to combine sales, marketing, and distribution of their fresh soups in the San Francisco Bay area.

ATLANTA -- Federal prosecutors have begun a criminal investigation into fraud allegations against Coca-Cola Co., including claims that the beverage giant rigged a market test at Burger King outlets to inflate the popularity of its slush drink Frozen Coke.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In an effort to help consumers easily identify products grown in the Golden State, Safeway/Vons is the first major retailer to offer "California Grown" product information statewide, featuring the voluntary marketing program's signage in each of its 531 supermarkets.

HOUSTON -- The Houston Business Journal reports that the Kroger Co. has chosen Houston as the test market for its new Kroger Dollar Store concept. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based retailer, which is the market leader in the Houston area, already has converted approximately 500 square feet of space into dollar store domains in two of its stores there.

SALINAS, Calif. -- The fresh-cut division of Performance Food Group (PFG), comprising three subsidiary companies -- Fresh Advantage, Redi-Cut Foods, and Fresh Express -- will operate under the corporate name of Fresh Express.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Schnuck Markets, Inc. has selected pizza as the first product to be introduced under a new "Dining In" brand of high-end private label refrigerated and frozen foods, reports the St. Louis Business Journal.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - SimonDelivers, Minnesota's leading home-grocery delivery service, today announced its expansion to serve customers in Rochester, St. Cloud, Faribault, Northfield and Hudson, Wis.

ST. LOUIS -- Aurora Foods, Inc., the manufacturer of Duncan Hines cake mixes, Aunt Jemima frozen waffles, and a host of other supermarket staples is in the process of selling a majority stake in the company to J.W. Childs Associates L.P. for $200 million as part of a prenegotiated bankruptcy plan.