Frozen Foods

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons, Inc. has named Duncan MacNaughton its new group v.p., grocery merchandising. In his new post, MacNaughton will lead Albertsons' efforts in key center store categories, including grocery, dairy, and frozen, and will also oversee Beer/Wine/Liquor as well as the company's growing fuel center operations.

NEW YORK - Discount retailer Dollar General Corp. today said it expects to open 675 new stores in the current fiscal year, and anticipates a similar growth rate in the next three fiscal years.

ATLANTA - Manhattan Associates, Inc. a provider of supply chain execution (SCE) solutions, today announced that Frozen Food Express Transportation Services, Inc., one of the largest temperature-controlled carriers of perishable goods (primarily food products, health care supplies, and confectionary items) in North America, has chosen its Transportation Management Systems (TMS) suite to increase collaboration between its subsidiary carriers and streamline its transportation operations.

CHICAGO - Dean Foods Co. said Wednesday that federal securities regulators are considering filing civil charges against the company alleging that it assisted bankrupt Fleming Cos. with questionable bookkeeping entries.

ATLANTA - After a successful yearlong test in select markets throughout the nation, Kash 4 Gas will be available in Kroger grocery stores throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Rome, Macon, and Dalton, among other locations. Kash 4 Gas is a customer loyalty program produced by Dallas, Texas-based Centego Marketing, Inc., in which shoppers earn free gasoline for purchasing specified grocery items.

Some of the most successful items in the supermarket perimeter are giving consumers plenty of reasons to appreciate specialty perishables.

AUSTIN, Texas - It's one-potato, two-potato at Whole Foods Market here, which is running a "Buy One, Give One" community giving program in conjunction with Alexia Foods, which markets a line of frozen mashed potatoes.

WASHINGTON - After presiding over numerous fact-finding discussions with more than 70 different trade and producer groups, the U.S. Agriculture Department yesterday issued its proposed rules for the congressionally mandated country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program that was required by the 2002 Farm Bill.