Nonfoods

MCLEAN, Va. -- The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), based here, yesterday issued a heartfelt tribute to one of its own -- Gerald E. "Gerry" Thomas, inventor of the TV dinner, who died in Paradise Valley, Ariz. this week of cancer at the age of 83.

STILLWATER, Minn. -- Cub Foods will once again partner with the Minnesota State Fair as the event's exclusive grocery retailer and exclusive ticket outlet in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

PLEASANTON -- Safeway, Inc., based here, yesterday launched a companywide back-to-school program with the involvement of over 40 food companies, to help customers raise money for their local schools.

SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Delhaize-owned Hannaford Bros., based here, will be adding its banner to two supermarkets in New Hampshire, one in New London and another in Bristol, according to published reports. The stores are being sold by the Cricenti family, which has operated Cricenti's Markets in New England since 1947.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Leading natural and organic foods retailer Whole Foods Market opened its inaugural Baton Rouge store yesterday, its third in the state of Louisiana. The nearly 50,000-square-foot location is at 7529 Corporate Blvd. at Jefferson Highway.

CONCORD, Calif. -- San Francisco-based Del Monte Foods has tapped Pacer International, Inc., a logistics and freight transportation provider here, to provide comprehensive logistics services for the producer, distributor, and marketer of branded and private label food and pet products.

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- For the second straight year, the cost of unsaleable products has declined for CPG manufacturers, according to the 2005 Unsaleables Benchmark Report, which was released yesterday at the Joint Unsaleables Management Conference here, which is produced by GMA in conjunction with FMI, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

PHOENIX -- Samples from the home of the Surprise, Ariz. man, who claimed last week to be making salmonella and tampering with food products -- especially Gerber Baby Juice -- were negative for salmonella bacteria, the Arizona Department of Health's (ADHS) State Public Health Lab said yesterday.