Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

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.

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).

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) here said yesterday that e.v.p. Mark Baum will resign from the trade association to join consulting firm DiamondCluster International as partner in January 2006.

SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Tyson Foods Inc. based here said it will not realize a significant benefit until sometime next year from Japan's decision to ease a ban on U.S. beef imports.

CHICAGO -- A study conducted by research firm Promodata's Price-Trak Group projects a decade-high average promotion allowance of 15 percent by year's end. This high allowance level is being driven by consistent increases across all major product groups, with the exception of refrigerated foods, which peaked in 2002/03, according to the group.

NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club here recently unveiled the solar energy system that the retailer has installed on the rooftop of its Saratoga, N.Y. location. Launched last spring, the system, which employs solar panels from Evergreen Solar, Inc., a Marlborough, Mass.-based developer, manufacturer, and marketer of solar power products using the company's proprietary low-cost manufacturing technologies, is BJ's largest North American solar installation.

LONDON, United Kingdom -- A holiday nightmare befell supermarket chain Waitrose, when it was forced to suspend its chip-and-PIN credit card processing system last week because of technical problems. While it is now operating a temporary card payment authorization system, it may be liable for any fraudulent transactions it processes in the meantime.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- In a move to add more high-quality, convenient items to its product mix, Food Lion here has begun offering Bertagni fresh filled pastas from Italy in more than 400 of its stores, via an exclusive partnership with Sterling Foods, Inc.