Trading Partners

SCHAUMBURG AND CHICAGO, Ill. -- Best-selling authors Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin, along with AARP c.e.o. William Novelli, will headline the 2005 Consumer 360 conference, the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry's premier educational and networking event hosted by ACNielsen U.S. and Spectra, both units of VNU.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Two independent supermarkets are among a select group of retailers being honored next month at the National Association of Store Fixtures Manufacturers¿ annual Retail Design Awards in Las Vegas.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ¿ Winn-Dixie Stores said last night that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court gave it the green light for the relief the beleaguered chain requested in a series of court filings known as "first day motions." The orders issued by the court will help the company continue tooperate its business during the reorganization process.

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Canadian organic supermarket chain Planet Organic said this week that it is acquiring Newfound Health's 17 franchise stores throughout the province of Alberta. Terms of the agreement will be made public upon completion of the acquisition, Planet Organic said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The 7th Annual Food Safety Summit and Expo will focus on the latest developments in protecting the nation's food supply from being compromised by any potential food safety or food security incidents, including everything from E-coli to Salmonella, to intentional contamination by terrorists.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kroger, Publix, and 14 other supermarket chains have joined forces with major organic food brands to launch an unprecedented $1 million marketing campaign, called "Go Organic! For Earth Day," this April, designed to drive mainstream consumer awareness, in-store traffic, and sales for organic food.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In a move that one analyst called a "great American business tragedy," Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. succumbed to pressures of tightening trade credit from vendors, credit downgrades, and increased losses, and filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code late Monday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Executives at Ruddick Corp., the parent company of supermarket chain Harris Teeter, acknowledged last week at their annual shareholders meeting that competitive pressures will make it hard to replicate the company's successful performance of 2004.