Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Global retailer Ahold said yesterday that consolidated net sales during its second quarter slipped to EUR 12.3 billion ($14.81 billion), a decline of 4.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

LUFKIN, Texas - Brookshire Brothers, based here, said yesterday that it has entered into a licensing agreement with KSS Limited, a global provider of pricing solutions to grocery, convenience, and petroleum retailers, for KSS' PriceStrat pricing and promotions solution.

LE MARS, Iowa - Weight Watchers International, Inc. and Wells' Dairy, the country's largest family-owned and managed dairy processor and a leading manufacturer of dairy products and frozen novelties, have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement starting Oct. 1.

THIBODAUX, La. - Rouse's Supermarkets expects to finish implementing a thin-client, Linux-driven point-of-sale software solution for all of its 15 grocery stores next month.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Fruit and vegetable offerings by quick-service, quick casual, family, and casual dining restaurants are increasing, but foodservice operators are still largely missing opportunities to appeal to their customers' interest in better health -- and to ring up better sales in the process.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Craig Fuller, president and c.e.o. of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), testified late last week before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health regarding electronic prescribing technology.

NEDERLAND, Texas - Market Basket, a privately held supermarket chain with stores in Texas and Louisiana, has completed the rollout of Retalix's DemandAnalytx store forecasting and ordering system after a pilot showed substantial improvements in out of stocks and inventory.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Giant Food, Inc. of Landover, Md. and the Procter & Gamble Company were honored yesterday with the inaugural Unsaleables Innovation Awards, presented by The Grocery Manufacturers of America during the 2004 Joint Industry Unsaleables Management Conference.