Research & Analysis

CHICAGO and QUINCY, Mass. - Leading Internet grocer Peapod, Inc., and Stop & Shop, New England's largest supermarket chain, has announced the expansion of service to the New Haven, Conn. metropolitan area.

WASHINGTON - American shoppers are increasingly aware of the role food and nutrition play in managing and maintaining health, and they're taking a variety of actions to meet their self-care objectives, according to a new study by the Food Marketing Institute and Prevention magazine, "Shopping for Health 2003: Whole Health for the Whole Family."

ATLANTA - After a successful yearlong test in select markets throughout the nation, Kash 4 Gas will be available in Kroger grocery stores throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Rome, Macon, and Dalton, among other locations. Kash 4 Gas is a customer loyalty program produced by Dallas, Texas-based Centego Marketing, Inc., in which shoppers earn free gasoline for purchasing specified grocery items.

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Safeway Inc. on Monday said it has abandoned the long-delayed sale of its money-losing Chicago supermarket division due to a labor disagreement with a prospective buyer.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Fresh Brands Inc. today reported sales of $152.6 million for its third quarter ended Oct. 4, 2003, which represents a 7.6 percent increase over last year's third-quarter sales of $141.9 million.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Kroger Co. suspended negotiations with striking union workers Saturday after four bargaining sessions failed to produce an agreement, The Associated Press reports.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - As part of its ongoing cost reduction efforts, Spartan Stores, Inc. on Friday announced that it has eliminated approximately 70 administrative staff positions at its office in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Retailers continue to prize efficiencies more than employees, and experts predict the payback will be a shortage of management talent in just a few years.