Trading Partners

CHICAGO -- At the Retail Systems show at McCormick Place here yesterday, Intentia, a global enterprise solutions provider for the manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance industries, with U.S. headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., laid out five trends in the retail industry that provide key opportunities and significant challenges as retailers' role in the supply chain significantly increases as a result of steady growth in the private label manufacturing industry.

NEW YORK -- If you think Wal-Mart's big now, just wait until 2010, when the retailing giant is expected to reach the half-trillion mark. Those were the cautionary words spoken here yesterday by Al Meyers, s.v.p., business development for Retail Forward, Inc., during the consultancy's conference, "Retailing 2010: Five Years Survived, Five Left to Thrive."

PITTSBURGH -- The H.J. Heinz Co., headquartered here, has named Jeffrey P. Berger e.v.p. Berger, who will retain his responsibilities as president and c.e.o. of Heinz North America Foodservice, will take charge of the company's worldwide foodservice business.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Grocers Association has named Timothy James its manager of Northern California local government relations. In this newly created position, James will advocate for association members before local elected and regulatory officials throughout Northern California.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands -- At its shareholders meeting this week, Ahold c.e.o. Anders Moberg told shareholders substantial progress is being made on the company's "Road to Recovery" plan implemented to remedy mounting losses in the wake of a large accounting scandal that erupted two years ago.

CHICAGO -- IGA here announced yesterday it has tapped retail veteran Douglas Fritsch as v.p., U.S. chief growth officer. Fritsch, who begins his appointment immediately, will report directly to IGA chairman and c.e.o. Thomas S. Haggai.

CHICAGO -- Retailers are vulnerable to lost sales and unhappy customers, because manufacturing planning processes and support levels for Rx-to-OTC (over-the-counter) switches and drug recalls/withdrawals are sub-par, said healthcare executives from the country's leading chains in a new survey from Information Resources Inc., and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS).

It's lately been a barren landscape for supermarket nonfoods. But smart ideas at retail are nourishing robust growth in some categories.