Frozen Foods

TORRANCE, Calif. -- First the British, via Tesco, and now the Japanese; actually the Japanese were here first. Famima Corp., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based convenience store chain FamilyMart Co., Ltd., said yesterday it would launch the third of 20-plus high-end specialty stores in the Los Angeles area in 2006, as part of a planned major U.S. rollout.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets here has expanded its assortment of regionally-produced White Oak Pastures premium grass-fed ground beef in 220 stores in North Georgia, North Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

ABINGDON, Va. -- K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc., parent company of regional chain Food City, said Friday it is buying eight Bi-Lo locations in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Maryville, Tenn., a move that will increase its market share in Knox County to around 30 percent.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Robert Rich Sr., who invented the first non-dairy whipped topping and founded a billion-dollar food company that bears his name here, died yesterday at 92, in his home in Palm Beach, Fla.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Regional healthy supermarket chain Earth Fare here has tapped Erik King, a veteran in the natural food industry, for the position of category manager.

ST. LOUIS -- Schnuck Markets, Inc. has promoted three senior managers to positions under new disciplines, and also made staff realignments in its meat, seafood and deli departments.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Hy-Vee, Inc., based here, will start construction on an 80,000-square-foot store in Sioux Falls, Iowa, on the site of a vacant former Kmart due for demolition. The store, which will feature such amenities as bigger baby and pet departments, is expected to open in spring 2007.

OMAHA, Neb. -- ConAgra Foods here said it plans to divest most of its refrigerated meats businesses, including the Armour, Butterball, and Eckrich brands. In addition, the company announced several changes designed to streamline its operating structure, including moving its grocery foods headquarters from Irvine, Calif., to Naperville, Ill., and further centralizing its shared services.