Nonfoods

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Putting action behind its statement earlier this year that organics and other healthy foods will play a bigger part in its stores, Wal-Mart Stores here is conducting a limited test market of Chicago-based Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s kefir product in up to 17 of its Chicago-land stores. The news, which came late Thursday, sent shares of Lifeway Foods soaring more than 20 percent early Friday.

NEW YORK -- Online grocer here FreshDirect today launched a new home page for its e-commerce Web site, designed to streamline the navigation process, and to introduce a "shop by meal" category featuring chef-picked and -prepared meal packages.

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to encourage food retailers throughout the state to step up their recycling activities, especially in the composting of such items as spoiled fruits and vegetables, floral and deli waste, and waxed cardboard.

FARMINGTON, Conn. -- The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) and West Hartford-based Wittman Specialty Foods have teamed up to launch the Connecticut Food Trail, described as "the gateway to New England's finest specialty foods," at www.ctfoodtrail.com. The site is scheduled to go live in January.

BOULDER, Co. -- Natural and organic foods retailer Wild Oats Markets, Inc. here yesterday opened its second store-within-a-store boutique in a store operated by Ahold's Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop chain. The Wild Oats branded shop, in a store in Fairfield, Conn., is the second of five planned Holistic Health test stores in Stop & Shop units in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

DALLAS -- Betting that the appeal of nutraceuticals will grow, leading convenience store chain 7-Eleven, Inc. here is by launching Formula 7, a proprietary line of functional foods and beverages.

TORONTO -- Loblaw Cos., Ltd. will participate fundraising campaign starting next month, to help women deal with the appearance-related side effects of cancer and its treatment. The effort is in partnership with Canadian national cancer support program Look Good Feel Better.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion asked, and Bloom shoppers have answered: We want more fresh foods.