Nonfoods

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Sears, Roebuck and Co. here has agreed to acquire ownership or leasehold interest in up to 61 off-mall stores in key Sears markets from Kmart Holding Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for approximately $620 million in cash.

WASHINGTON - Although the Food and Drug Administration has made many improvements to the proposed bioterrorism regulations, "there is still room for more, especially with concern to prior notice and record-keeping," Susan Stout, v.p. of federal affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers of America, said in testimony before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee late last week.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Farm Fresh Supermarkets, based here, has become the first Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain to add Healthnotes EasyAnswers Touchscreen in-store kiosks. The 35-store Supervalu subsidiary has installed 15 kiosks in 11 of its stores, four of which are using the Healthnotes kiosks in multiple departments.

WASHINGTON - After publishing a proposed rule mandating nutrition information on single-ingredient meat and poultry products in January 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture appears poised to release new regulations in a final rule this summer.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has appointed Karen Stuckey s.v.p. of product development for Wal-Mart Stores, USA, as of July 12. Stuckey was previously group president, Sara Lee branded apparel casualwear and emerging business for Sara Lee Corp. She will report to Claire Watts, e.v.p. merchandising for Wal-Mart Stores, USA.

SAN FRANCISCO - The tuna industry disputes the state of California's suit against the producers of Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist for not warning shoppers about mercury content, saying that such an action could do more harm than good.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and STAMFORD, Conn. - ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU business and sister company of Progressive Grocer, and Daymon Worldwide, Inc., the global leader in sales and marketing of private label consumer products, today announced the formation of a strategic alliance under which ACNielsen will become Daymon's new primary provider of syndicated sales information and consumer insights.

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons, Inc. has elevated Duncan Mac Naughton, who most recently served as group v.p./grocery merchandising, to s.v.p. of merchandising. In his new post Mac Naughton will lead Albertsons merchandising efforts across food, general merchandise, health and beauty care, fuel, and alcohol.