LONDON/ZURICH - Associated British Foods Plc has agreed to buy Novartis AG's food and beverage business for 272.5 million euros ($267.2 million), including the drink brands Ovomaltime and Ovaltine, Reuters reports.
Despite the myriad challenges of last year, supermarket sales rose 3.5 percent from 2000, when the economy was in decidedly better shape. All departments shared in the advance.
WASHINGTON, D.C. and SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Consumers still conduct their primary shopping at supermarkets, but feel they save more money and receive better value while being tempted to buy more items when shopping at warehouse club stores and supercenters, according to a new consumer poll.
WASHINGTON - U.S. health officials said Friday they approved a new sweetener, neotame, that is about 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar, Reuters reports.
CINCINNATI - Procter & Gamble Co. on Friday filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola Co. alleging that the soft drink maker and former joint venture partner is infringing on patented technology that adds calcium to fruit juices, Reuters reports.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Safeway.com has said it has more than doubled in size in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas since its mid-March launch and is now available to customers in 250 ZIP code areas, representing approximately 2.6 million households.
