Frozen Foods

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. has found another area to cut costs as it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 later this year. The regional retailer said yesterday it has decided to consolidate its distribution operations in southern Florida.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In the latest example of post-Katrina progress, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. here is re-opening two supercenters in New Orleans just seven months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Shoppers at new Grocery Outlet here will be burning away fat on their new George Foreman Grills, which will be given away to the first 100 customers in a grand opening promotion that begins April 1.

CHICAGO -- Dollar sales of cosumer packaged goods grew just 1.6 percent in 2005, an extraordinarily challenging year marked by a devastating hurricane season and uneven economy. But while industry growth was disappointing, trends across specific channels and categories were encouraging, said Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), a provider of enterprise market solutions for the CPG, retail, and healthcare industries.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Giant Food Stores, LLC, based here, said yesterday that it has promoted Nancy E. Jones to v.p. of asset protection, and Todd Patti to director of sales development.

SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets here will cut the ribbon for a 61,000-square-foot superstore in Ranson, W.V. this Saturday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's third test supercenter opened yesterday in Plano, Texas, but rather than focusing on the earth's environment, as do the first two experimental supercenters in McKinney, Texas and Aurora, Colo., this one focuses sharply on the competitive retail environment, breaking much new ground for the traditional mega-discounter of basics.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Peter Gilmore has been promoted to v.p./eastern seaboard sourcing by Dole Food Co. here.