Trading Partners

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives today is slated to push a $2.9 billion package that boosts vaccine stockpiles and protects food and water supplies as part of Congress' response to the terrorist attacks, The Associated Press reports.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. today reported earnings of $0.32 per diluted share, excluding costs related to a merger and one-time expenses, for the third quarter endedNov. 10, 2001. These results represent an increase of 14.3% over the third quarter of 2000, on the same basis.

CHICAGO - Transora, the business-to-business online exchange that links manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in food, beverage and packaged goods industries among others, has laid off about 15 percent of its work force, and its CEO says a merger with another exchange is a possibility, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

CINCINNATI - Chiquita Brands International Inc. today filed in Federal Court in Cincinnati a Pre-Arranged Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union's highest court today rejected demands from UK supermarket giant Tesco for the right to import Levi's jeans from the United States, the BBC reported.

LONDON - Sales of organic food in the UK are continuing to increase faster than in any other European country, according to a report cited by BBC news.

DALLAS - 7-Eleven Inc. senior executives announced today the company is hosting its first quarterly Product Innovation Day on Jan. 17, 2002, at its headquarters in Dallas.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and DALLAS - The WorldWide Retail Exchange today announced the signing of a definitive agreement with The viaLink Company, the first of several preferred partners for data synchronization services. viaLink will provide advanced, commerce-level data synchronization services to WWRE members and their trading partners.