Trading Partners

WASHINGTON - Nearly half of respondents (49 percent) to a new survey by the Grocery Manufacturers of America said a familiar brand name was the first or second most important element when making a purchase in the supermarket.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. - Increasing product availability on the store shelf can boost retail sales by three percent or $200,000 annually per average supermarket, according to a study released today from the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

DALLAS and BOISE, Idaho - WinCo Foods Inc., a 36-store, employee-owned supermarket chain based in Boise, Idaho, has said it will use viaLink's data synchronization and scan based trading (SBT) services to improve its supply chain efficiency.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Publix Super Markets Inc. has launched a Web site to support its purchasing and reverse auction program.

CINCINNATI and BOISE, Idaho - The Kroger Co. and Albertson's on Friday said separately that they continue to support the Food Marketing Institute's development of an animal welfare program and will require their suppliers to adopt the program's "best practice" guidelines when they are issued by FMI in early summer.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Corporation today announced the appointment of William D. Underwood as executive vice president, Kmart sourcing and global operations, effective immediately.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - ACNielsen U.S. has announced the launch of the Homescan RX/OTC Consumer Panel, a new research service that measures consumer purchases and use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's antitrust agency is considering an investigation of the country's leading mass merchandiser, Wal-Mart de Mexico SA, to determine whether the firm used its market power to squeeze suppliers, The Associated Press reports.