Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

WASHINGTON - The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) on Friday sent a letter to eBay, asking the Internet company to immediately stop the sale or auction of grocery coupons on its Web site, noting that the practice is illegal and many of the coupons may be counterfeit.

AMSTERDAM -- Shares in Ahold rose today as the market welcomed the news that the company's new chief executive will unveil a new strategy Sept. 4, even before 2002 results are known, to rebuild the shattered confidence of shareholders who saw their investments evaporate in the wake of the accounting scandal, Reuters reports.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich.-- The Associated Food Dealers of Michigan -- the voice of Michigan's food and beverage industry, representing nearly 3,000 retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers -- is calling for $75 million in disaster relief for Michigan's retail food industry in the wake of the recent power outages in the East and Midwest.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the latest grocer to respond to a wave of counterfeiting, Harris Teeter says it will no longer accept computer-generated coupons printed from the Internet.

CHICAGO -- Parents, not fast-food restaurants, are most responsible for the rise of obesity in American children, according to a new ACNielsen survey.

DENVER - Company officials said on Monday that Safeway donated more than $5.2 million worth of food to the region's largest food bank during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, as part of the grocer's comprehensive program to assist hunger-relief agencies in Colorado and surrounding states.

BOISE, Idaho - As area children and their families prepare to go back to school, Albertsons is partnering with several vendors to give back over $5 million to communities during the back to school season.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Fresh Brands Inc. on Wednesday announced the opening of another of its new "flagship" design Piggly Wiggly Fresh MarketCircle stores in Sheboygan, Wis., featuring the company's first Pig Stop fuel/convenience store.