Center Store

BRISTOL, England - Somerfield Plc, which operates the Kwik Save and Somerfield grocery chains, has agreed to purchase 114 Safeway stores from William Morrison Supermarkets Plc for 260.2 million pounds (U.S.$478 million) in cash to increase its customer base, according to published reports.

NEW YORK - The All Asia Food Expo, which exclusively features Asian food and beverage products sold to both retail and foodservice outlets, will make its national debut at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Center on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

CARLISLE, Pa. - Shoppers at 17 Giant Food Stores in the Harrisburg, Pa. area will be eligible for rebates on selected healthier foods and other products bought between Oct. 24 and Dec. 4. Additionally, members of the HealthAmerica and HealthAssurance health insurance plans will receive a gift and be eligible for prize drawings when they buy rebate-eligible products.

AUSTIN, Texas - More than one-quarter of Americans (27 percent) are eating more organic products than just one year ago. Just two years after the U.S., according to the 2004 Whole Foods Market Organic Foods Trend Tracker survey.

El PASO, Texas - Big 8 Food Stores is participating in a one-year pilot that will test the use of new smart cards on IBM point-of-sale systems to conduct electronic benefits transactions for participants in the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. - 99 Cents Only Stores yesterday posted net income of $4.7 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $12.1 million for the third quarter of 2003.

NATICK, Mass. - BJ's Wholesale Club has joined up with thousands of children to support military men and women serving overseas.

STOCKTON, Calif. - Wal-Mart opens its first supercenter in Northern California at 8 a.m. today. The store, on East Hammer Lane here, features more than 100,000 products, including general merchandise and a full line of groceries.