Trading Partners

BOSTON - A former food broker for Advantage/ESM was convicted on Monday in federal court of receipt of stolen securities and monies taken from Tewksbury, Mass.-based Demoulas Supermarkets, the U.S. Attorney's office reports.

LOS ANGELES - ACNielsen U.S. today announced that its Web-based category management intelligence system, Category Business Planner (CBP), has been adopted by three additional leading retailers: Rite Aid, Shaw's Supermarkets, and Snyder/Drug Emporium.

LOS ANGELES - New research by ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU Company, shows that organic food shoppers are extremely loyal to the category, while non-buyers have virtually no interest in organic products. Both groups likely need more education on the topic.

Charlotte, N.C. - Elogex Inc., provider of collaborative logistics solutions, today announced that Bozzuto's, a New England-based wholesale grocer, has selected its transportation logistics platform.

WASHINGTON, DC - Food Marketing Institute President and CEO Tim Hammonds on Monday issued a letter to FMI members asking them to oppose the new mandatory country-of-origin labeling law, which FMI believes would place an undue burden on supermarkets.

BOSTON - In a move that reflects consumers' increasing interest in natural foods, a New York investment firm has acquired a majority interest in Annie's Homegrown Inc., the Wakefield, Mass.-based manufacturer of all-natural and organic pasta products.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In five years, Wal-Mart could be twice as big as it is today if it increases its market share in major categories such as food and apparel and newer areas such as gasoline, predicts global consulting and market research firm Retail Forward.

VEVEY, Switzerland - Nestle today said it will acquire the assets of Chef America Inc., the leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of frozen hand-held food products, for $2.6 billion in cash.