Nonfoods

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Southeastern organic/natural supermarket chain Earth Fare here is gearing up to roll out its kid-focused healthy eating program chainwide, the retailer told Progressive Grocer yesterday. The initiative includes cooking classes for children, shelf tags that designate "healthy" items, and a membership club that rewards kids with good-for-you treats like fresh fruit.

Cookies - trans fats + whole grains = $$

Giant of Landover is automating its way to a more convenient method of serving pharmacy customers.

WIND GAP, Pa. -- In the latest instance of tampering in the area, a sealed can of Progresso minestrone purchased Saturday at a Giant Food Store here was found to contain a "slightly rusty" sewing needle. This was the fifth report of needles or pins discovered in products bought from area food stores over the past two weeks.

EDMOND, Okla. -- HAC Inc. here, operator of 67 supermarkets throughout Oklahoma and Kansas, including 49 Homeland Stores, launched its own branded debit card, the One Card Plus, in five of its locations.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is at the gate of Los Angeles, with its newest Wal-Mart supercenter just opened Friday in Santa Clarita, Calif., bringing the banner closer than ever the Los Angeles city limits.

PITTSBURGH -- Forget about its importance as a sporting event; the Super Bowl is one of the nation's biggest food events of the year, and supermarket operators this season are making sure they score every extra point they can.

SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Hannaford Bros. Co. here is making a bid to win over more Massachusetts shoppers with the opening of its biggest stores in Taunton and Easton, Mass. this weekend. The stores, both of which will make their debut on Saturday, measure about 56,000 square feet each.