Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

DALLAS and Lawrenceville, N.J. - UCCnet today announced The viaLink Company has joined UCCnet's "Partners In Sync" program as a preferred alliance partner. The agreement is intended to accelerate the adoption of standards-based data synchronization for consumer package goods trading partners.

'You've got to push the envelope. The more you push, the more opportunities you'll find," says Jeff Noddle, president, CEO and COO of Supervalu. These days, Noddle, who took over the helm in June from long-time CEO Mike Wright, is pushing pretty hard, looking at opportunities outside Supervalu's traditional customer base —such as alternative formats, significant reductions in inventory, organic growth vs. acquisition, B2B initiatives, and a laundry list of other strategic issues.

TORONTO - Greenpeace Canada led a demonstration on Monday at a Loblaw Cos. superstore for failing to support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods.

BANGKOK, Thailand - Cees van der Hoeven, CEO of Royal Ahold, and Antony Burgmans, chairman of Unilever, have been chosen to take over as co-chairmen of the Global Commerce Initiative, a worldwide advisory group for the development of voluntary electronic transaction standards for business.

CCnet announced today that Food Lion will utilize the organization's business-to-business Internet-based services.

Andy Small, senior vice president, Northern California Supermarkets for Ralphs Grocery Company, was recently elected California Grocers Association Chairman of the Board.

Kmart has been pressuring some of its suppliers to give it cash back and make other concessions to help its own bottom line, according to The New York Times.

Fleming Cos. Inc., the No. 2 U.S. wholesale food supplier behind Supervalu Inc., today reported a 52 percent increase in third quarter 2001 net earnings to $22.8 million, or $0.47 per share, after adjustments to exclude strategic plan charges and one-time items, compared to $15.0 million, or $0.37 per share, in the third quarter of 2000.