Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

NEW YORK and DANBURY, Conn. -- Progressive Grocer and Kenosia Corporation said yesterday they will jointly sponsor the 10th Annual 2005 Category Captains awards program. Recognizing industry leaders in category management, the awards program honors companies whose innovation and commitment to this critical business practice set the pace for other suppliers of the supermarket industry.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Friday it plans to open a 75,000-square-foot flagship store on central London's Kensington High Street in early 2007. It'll be the super-natural chain's first store outside of North America.

CHICAGO -- IGA said late last week that it appointed James J. Walz senior director of branding and business development. Walz, who began his appointment immediately, reports directly to Doug Fritsch, IGA's v.p., U.S. chief growth officer.

NEWARK, Del. -- Citing growing member concerns regarding transportation challenges, the Produce Marketing Association has established a transportation task force that will examine, and when possible, propose solutions for critical produce industry transportation issues.

WASHINGTON -- A group of doctors that has sued several dairy product manufacturers, claiming their weight loss claims are untrue, said this week that it has dropped Kraft Foods from the suit.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As fall approaches and families get back to hectic school schedules, the frozen and refrigerated foods industry will offer convenient solutions to fuel busy school days. The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) here and its partnering manufacturers will promote October "Fuel for School" Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Festival with a sweepstakes and retail merchandising contest to build excitement with consumers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- ShopKo Stores, Inc., a multi-department retailer with 363 stores in the Western and Pacific states, yesterday completed the rollout of a direct store delivery (DSD) solution across its 140-store ShopKo Stores Division.

NATICK, Mass. -- Due in large part to robust private label and high-margin fresh food sales, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. yesterday posted a positive second quarter performance, although tempered on the income side by lower than anticipated profits on fuel.