Center Store

KOKIE, Ill. -Private label procurers Topco Associates Inc. and Shurfine International Inc. on Monday announced that their respective shareholder groups have voted in favor of a proposed merger of the Shurfine International operations into those of Topco Associates Inc. The transaction, which will be achieved through the formation of a new company, Topco Associates LLC, is effective Nov. 1, 2001.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced its five Dutch subsidiaries are teaming up to offer a new joint Internet-based home delivery service called "Albert".

Kellogg, Procter & Gamble and Ralston Purina Co. released quarterly earnings today.

Swiss food and beverages giant Nestle SA today expressed interest in taking full control of the Haagen-Dazs ice cream business by buying the 50 percent stake owned by its partner in the venture, Pillsbury Co., the Associated Press reported.

Kmart has been pressuring some of its suppliers to give it cash back and make other concessions to help its own bottom line, according to The New York Times.

Food distributors are being squeezed by three powerful trends that are pressing the industry to further increase efficiencies in distribution centers (DCs) and try even harder to meet customers' logistics needs, according to the 2001 Food Industry Distribution Center Benchmarking Report, recently released by FDI and FMI.

IGA, the global supermarketer, recently presented two prestigious awards to retailers for overall performance and international excellence.

Vitasoy USA, producer and marketer of soy beverages and tofu, has announced the appointment of Thomas Osetek to president and CEO.