Nonfoods

EDGEWATER, N.J. -- Green tea company Ito En (North America), Inc. opened its first in-store retail shop last week in Mitsuwa Marketplace, a 100,000-square-foot Asian mall here. The marketplace is currently undergoing a remodeling to showcase its variety of retailers.

OTTAWA, Ont. -- In keeping with its plans to expand, Farm Boy, based here, said yesterday it would develop a new campaign encompassing corporate identity, store signage, and the Farm Boy private label brand, as well as advertising and promotion.

THIBODAUX, La. -- Rouses, the largest independent supermarket chain in Louisiana, has broken ground on a new store in Slidell, which is a New Orleans suburb in St. Tammany Parish.

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.

SEATTLE -- Starbucks Coffee Co., here is adding to its lineup of ready-to-drink coffee products by introducing Starbucks Iced Coffee in the United States through the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture with Chicago-based PepsiCo. The beverage will be available at Starbucks stores in March, and regular and light varieties will arrive in grocery and convenience stores across the country in May.

NEW YORK -- What might seem like a baby step from the United Kingdom's leading retailer could have giant implications for U.S. food and convenience stores, industry observers said yesterday.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- In a bid to better compete with such operators as Whole Foods and Wild Oats, Safeway today marks the grand opening of its redesigned Lifestyle Store in Wild Oat's hometown of Boulder, Colo., rolling out a shopping concept that highlights thousands of organic and natural items, new expanded perishable departments, and such special features as a fresh sushi bar and an interactive culinary center where chefs will run cooking demonstrations and customers can buy cookbooks and kitchenware.

NEWARK, Del. --Through a sponsorship from Try-Foods International, Inc., up to 10 retailers will receive $1,000 towards their expenses to attend the 2006 PMA Retail Produce Solutions Conference (RPSC) to be held March 9 to March 11 in Houston.