Nonfoods

NEW YORK -- U.S. importers, distributors, restaurateurs, supermarkets, and specialty food stores have the chance to grow their product lines and offerings by importing products from France, according to the French Trade Commission, part of the French Embassy, which will hold the inaugural French Food Connection this spring to facilitate contacts between the two nations.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- One year after the introduction of Activia, the Dannon Co., Inc. said yesterday it was expanding its lineup of probiotic fresh dairy foods with functional benefits. The three products to be introduced this year are DanActive dairy drink, Danimals with LGG drinks and lowfat yogurt, and Activia Light nonfat yogurt.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- This week Price Chopper Supermarkets here is hosting a series of anniversary celebrations at its Bristol and Southington, Conn. stores. Among the scheduled festivities are senior days, pharmacy clinics, floral clinics, Citizen Bank giveaways, contests, raffles, and prizes. Activities for children include free press-on tattoos and balloons. Additionally, shoppers will be able to sample products in the grocer's pizza, deli departments, as well as at various specialty stations.

CHICAGO -- Eight conventional supermarkets in the San Francisco Bay area will be converting to the IGA Banner as they join the world's largest voluntary supermarket network, with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- One year after the introduction of Activia, the Dannon Co., Inc. said yesterday it was expanding its lineup of probiotic fresh dairy foods with functional benefits. The three products to be introduced this year are DanActive dairy drink, Danimals with LGG drinks and lowfat yogurt, and Activia Light nonfat yogurt.

CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co. here named a former ConAgra v.p. to a newly created position of v.p./corporate brands. The executive, Linda Severin, who will assume her duties Jan. 29, will lead the company's increasingly important corporate brands strategy, which is becoming a key part of its growth, the chain said.

NEW YORK & HAARLEM, the Netherlands -- In a move that emphasizes its best-known brand name and underscores a commitment to create an integrated, streamlined global organization, VNU, the parent company of Progressive Grocer, said yesterday it is changing its name to The Nielsen Company.

STAMFORD, CT - Private label consulting firm Daymon Worldwide yesterday named Peter Brennan vice chairman of the board and Alex Miller, most recently e.v.p., has been appointed to succeed Brennan as president and c.o.o. of the company.