Nonfoods

QUINCY, Mass. - Unionized grocery store workers in Connecticut and western Massachusetts this week voted for union leaders to call a strike against Stop & Shop. At issue is whether workers will have to pay for their health insurance.

NEW YORK -- Online grocer FreshDirect here is launching a Valentine's Day menu, allowing its customers to "prepare an easy and romantic restaurant-quality meal for a special someone in the comfort of their own homes," in the words of the company. Orders can be placed now for deliveries on Feb. 8 through Feb. 13."We continue to offer our customers simple and easy ways to delight their family and friends with great food, and this year's Valentine's Day is a perfect example," said FreshDirect c.e.o. and president Steve Michaelson. "From longtime couples to awkward first dates, our Valentine's Day selection is a surefire way to impress anyone on the most romantic day of the year."The tasting menu will provide one choice of an appetizer (Scallops, Salad, or Soup), entree (Surf and Turf or Cheese Fondue), and dessert (Almond Joy Cake, Chocolate Cake, and Passion Fruit Bread Pudding, each served with ice cream or sorbet).

CARTERET, N.J. and BOULDER, Colo. -- Pathmark Stores, Inc. and Wild Oats Markets, Inc. said yesterday that about 150 Wild Oats branded all-natural and organic food products are now on the shelves at all 141 Pathmark locations.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Mike Beaudry, manager of Big Y's Fresh Acres Market concept store here, has finally tracked down some local honey, from the Hampden County Beekeepers Association, to sell along with the other locally sourced offerings emphasized by the Fresh Acres Market format. Beaudry had been looking for locally produced honey since the store opened last October.

QUINCY, Mass. -- Ahold's Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover banners have chosen VeriFone Holding, Inc.'s MX870 multimedia customer-facing payment system with signature capture for use in their stores.

QUINCY, Mass. -- Ahold's Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover banners have chosen VeriFone Holding, Inc.'s MX870 multimedia customer-facing payment system with signature capture for use in their stores.

MINNEAPOLIS -- General Mills will officially launch during the first quarter of 2007 a Worldwide Innovation Network (WIN), which it said is "designed to expand and accelerate the innovation advances already underway inside the company."

MINNEAPOLIS -- General Mills will officially launch during the first quarter of 2007 a Worldwide Innovation Network (WIN), which it said is "designed to expand and accelerate the innovation advances already underway inside the company."