Perimeter

CHICAGO -- Dollar sales of cosumer packaged goods grew just 1.6 percent in 2005, an extraordinarily challenging year marked by a devastating hurricane season and uneven economy. But while industry growth was disappointing, trends across specific channels and categories were encouraging, said Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), a provider of enterprise market solutions for the CPG, retail, and healthcare industries.

MONROVIA, Calif. -- The checkout line snaked around most of the perimeter, and scores of curious and enthusiastic shoppers swarmed the aisles last Friday, the opening day of Trader Joe's first New York City store.

COPPELL, Texas -- Minyard Food Stores, Inc. here expects to debut its new Hispanic-centric Carnival flagship store in mid-summer, s.v.p. of strategy and marketing Poul Heilmann told Progressive Grocer yesterday. The ground-up store, to be located in the Oaklawn section of southwest Dallas, will incorporate the many new ideas Minyards has implemented in four recent Carnival remodels.

BOULDER, Colo. -- Natural and organic foods chain Wild Oats Markets, Inc. here is gearing up to enter the Tampa, Fla. market with its latest prototype, which offers its signature perishables, an extensive organic and natural product selection, and energy-conserving equipment. The 37,000-square-foot store, located in Walters Crossing at 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway (Dale Mabry at I-275), above a Target store, will open April 5.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets here and Palo Alto, Calif.-based Bon Appétit Management Co., a foodservice company noted for its sustainable sourcing practices, said yesterday at the Boston Seafood Show that they have adopted new purchasing policies for farmed king salmon that meets strict health and environmental criteria. The policies were developed with New York-based Environmental Defense, an environmental advocacy organization.

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa. -- The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) said yesterday that retail sales in the U.S. consumer packaged goods health and wellness industry reached $79 billion in 2005, accounting for total growth of 15 percent over 2004.

Pasta's rebound from its Atkins-era slump makes the category just right for full-meal merchandising.

Louisiana's Rouses Supermarkets leverages local expertise and a blend of old and new in its latest store.