Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

OMAHA, Neb. -- Packaged foods giant ConAgra Foods Inc. said yesterday it will combine its foodservice segment with its food ingredients business, to form one new commercial foods group. The goal is to improve accountability and reduce complexity, the company said.

BETHPAGE, N.Y -- King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc., based here, has spawned a foodservice arm, The Kullenary, a full-service café/deli offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner to eat in or take out.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Let the 2006 mergers begin. Spartan Stores, Inc. here said it plans to acquire D&W Food Centers, Inc., also based here, in a deal that could add $200 million a year to Spartan's sales revenue.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- AG Supermarkets, Inc., the retail subsidiary of Associated Grocers of New England here, said Friday it has opened a new upscale Harvest Market format in Hollis, N.H.

CHICAGO -- Ready to celebrate its 80 years of business in style, IGA here said yesterday it has created an anniversary-themed marketing program, which officially begins in February of 2006.

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) here applauded the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's passage yesterday of the "National Uniformity for Food Act" (H.R. 4167), a piece of legislation designed to provide consumers with accurate, consistent information about food safety.

LOS ANGELES AND ST. LOUIS -- Smart & Final and Schnucks Markets will be the first grocery customers to add EarthShell Packaging plates and bowls by its United States-based licensee, ReNewable Products, Inc. (RPI).

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Expanding its presence in Latin America, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it has purchased Sonae's retail operations in Brazil, which include 140 hypermarkets, supermarkets and wholesale units. The total transaction was valued at euro 635 million (approximately $757 million).