Trading Partners

Imported specialty foods will become less and less 'special' in a multicultural market -- but they'd better be the real thing.

PITTSBURGH and BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Giant Eagle and Sam's Club are among the diverse group of retailers participating in the first-ever Fair Trade Display Challenge being coordinated by TransFair USA to recognize Fair Trade Month, which begins tomorrow.

NEW YORK -- Private Label products are steadily increasing their share of the international marketplace, according to a new report on the market from ACNielsen, a VNU business and sister company of Progressive Grocer. The report, "The Power of Private Label 2005 Executive News Report, " private label items made up 17 percent of total value sales for the 12 months ending the first quarter of 2005, up from the 15 percent level ACNielsen reported in 2003.

ST. LOUIS -- Leaders from labor unions that bolted from the AFL-CIO vowed at their first formal meeting here yesterday to organize Wal-Mart's work force and reach out to people who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- New business deals for Pennsylvania companies were on the menu this week as Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell welcomed more than 300 guests to his residence here for the "Taste of Pennsylvania" reception.

MATTHEWS, N.C. and CINCINNATI -- Several food retailers provided updates yesterday regarding post-Hurricane Katrina operations and relief efforts.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Delhaize division Food Lion here has appointed Tammy DeBoer v.p. of deli, bakery, and home meal solutions. She reports to Derrick Penick, s.v.p. of fresh merchandising and distribution.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. -- Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. said yesterday that it would open a 140,000-square-foot store in this Baltimore area town on Oct. 2, the retailer's first in the state of Maryland.