Perimeter

With unique products and even more unique merchandising, Dave's Marketplace has retrieved its pet category sales in a competitive market.

AUSTIN, Tex. -- Whole Foods Market is gearing up for the grand opening of a new Austin "landmark store" and world headquarters on March 3. The new 80,000 sq. ft. store, will serve as a key anchor of Austin's downtown revitalization efforts. Its opening coincides with Whole Foods' 25th anniversary.

SYDNEY -- An upscale Sydney shopping center launched a "cereal dating" night at its supermarket for Valentine's Day.

With everybody trying to get ethnic at retail, supermarkets have to fight harder than ever to stake their claim.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market, Inc. yesterday reported a sales surge of 22 percent to $1.37 billion for the 16-week quarter ended Jan. 16.

NEW YORK -- With Super Bowl XXXIX just days away, several VNU businesses yesterday released a marketing guide based on in-depth analysis of trends related to the big game, combining data from numerous sources including television ratings, advertising expenditures, Internet measurement, album sales, box-office, consumer and lifestyle information, merchandise sales, consumer segmentation and targeting, comprehensive market research, and retail consumer sales for of the event.

GILBERT, Ariz. -- Henry's Farmers Market, Wild Oats' fresh foods grocery store, plans to hire up to 220 full- and part-time employees for its new stores here in the Gilbert Commons shopping center and Mirador Square shopping center. Both stores are scheduled to open in late March.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. ¿ Wal-Mart and Sam's Club pharmacies will offer complimentary cholesterol and blood pressure screenings as part of two Healthy Heart Community Events this month to raise awareness of the nation's No. 1 killer -- heart disease.