Frozen Foods

MONROVIA, Calif. -- The checkout line snaked around most of the perimeter, and scores of curious and enthusiastic shoppers swarmed the aisles last Friday, the opening day of Trader Joe's first New York City store.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In celebration of National Frozen Food Month in March, Wal-Mart supercenters across the country shared the National Frozen Food Association's "Warm Up to Frozen" message on Saturday by offering a calendar, tied to the upcoming 20th Century Fox release "Ice Age: The Meltdown," that features frozen food tips and vendor information.

LOS ANGELES -- The Kroger Co.'s Ralphs division here has joined forces with American Express Incentive Services (AEIS) for a consumer promotion that debuts the grocer's first-ever customized movie card.

DUNCAN, S.C -- The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has awarded the Cryovac Food Packaging Division of Sealed Air Corporation, based here, a handful of its 2006 Top Packaging Awards.

BOULDER, Colo. -- Natural and organic foods chain Wild Oats Markets, Inc. here is gearing up to enter the Tampa, Fla. market with its latest prototype, which offers its signature perishables, an extensive organic and natural product selection, and energy-conserving equipment. The 37,000-square-foot store, located in Walters Crossing at 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway (Dale Mabry at I-275), above a Target store, will open April 5.

CARTERET, N.J. -- Pathmark Stores, Inc. said Friday that Mark Barnett has been named s.v.p. of nonperishable merchandising. Barnett comes to the Northeast regional grocer from Chandler, Ariz.-based Bashas', Inc., where he served as s.v.p. of sales and merchandising.

PEMBROKE, N.H. -- Associated Grocers of New England, Inc. said yesterday it is moving its operations to a newly completed, state-of-the-art, 350,000-square-foot wholesale grocery distribution center here.

SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets, Inc., based here, is reopening its Derry Township, Pa. store Sunday, March 5, after the completion of a 10,000-square-foot addition to the existing 45,000-square-foot plant.