Nonfoods

WILMINGTON, Del. - Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang are joining forces with the world's biggest retailer this Halloween season to encourage children to treat themselves to good health by eating a colorful variety of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ¿ With $12 billion in annual sales, precut, prewashed packaged fruits and vegetables remain the fastest-growing segment in the produce sector, with plenty of room still to grow, according to new research from the International Fresh-cut Produce Association (IFPA).

NATICK, Mass. - Food and other grocery-related product segments were the clear leaders in sales growth for BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. in September, the company said yesterday.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Raley's, based here, has received the Food Marketing Institute's 2004 Maximizing People Potential Award in recognition of the company's comprehensive "Store Director Readiness Program." The award is given annually to a retailer or wholesaler that develops an initiative that enhances employee performance or results in the achievement of a key business goal.

WASHINGTON - A comprehensive national response is needed to address childhood obesity in the United States, members of Congress were told on Tuesday during a hearing by the Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee.

LOS ANGELES - As part of its strategy to become the nation's leading supplier of low-carb foods and beverages, Sunset Brands, Inc. yesterday announced it has completed the acquisition of Vancouver, Wash.-based Low Carb Creations, Inc., one of the nation's premier low-carb food manufacturers.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market, known for its selection of organics and other healthy fare, yesterday announced the opening of the Whole Foods Market Gluten-Free Bakehouse, the company's first dedicated gluten-free baking facility.

OAKLAND, Calif. - TransFair USA, an independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products, Friday kicked off its first annual Fair Trade Month celebration, a month-long event that includes participation by hundreds of supermarkets.