Mass Market Retailers articles from August 2005

Mass Market Retailers archives from August 2005

Sears format opens.(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... SEARS FORMAT OPENS: Sears Holdings Corp. has debuted the Essentials format in St. Petersburg, Fla. The former Kmart outlet, which combines Sears and Kmart brands, may be the first of several Essentials units in the Tampa Bay area. The second is...

Wal-Mart files suit.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... WAL-MART FILES SUIT: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has filed a suit against former vice chairman Tom Coughlin. Filed in Benton County Circuit Court in Arkansas, the suit alleges that the former Wal-Mart executive siphoned up to $500,000 from the...

ShopKo units sold.(ShopKo Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... SHOPKO UNITS SOLD: ShopKo Stores Inc. has sold its three units in Colorado to Regency Realty Group Inc. Merchandise will be liquidated by mid-October. The sale is unrelated to the acquisition of ShopKo by Minneapolis-based private equity firm...

Kroger/Medicare tie.(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... KROGER/MEDICARE TIE: Kroger Co. is partnering with the federal government to help enroll seniors in the Medicare prescription drug benefit program taking effect January 1. Kroger pharmacies will work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...

A&P Canada sold.
August 8, 2005... MONTVALE, N.J. -- Metro Inc. of Montreal emerged on July 19 as the winner in the competition to acquire the assets of A&P Canada, all of whose 236 stores are situated in the province of Ontario. A&P Canada's corporate parent, A&P, which is...

Winn-Dixie on track to slim down.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- As it continues to restructure its business under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has sold the leases for 102 of its stores. The sale to 30 purchasers who will operate the outlets as grocery...

Safeway ordered to raise gas prices.(Dassel's Petroleum Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... HOLLISTER, Calif. -- In a lawsuit that could have implications for mass marketers selling gasoline, a state judge here has ordered a Safeway Inc. gas station to stop selling fuel below cost. The preliminary injunction by a judge in San...

Walgreens Rxmen back on job.(pharmacists voluntarily return to their jobs)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Less than three weeks after they walked out Walgreen Co. pharmacists at 400 stores in and around Chicago voted to end their work stoppage without coming to an agreement on a new contract. After that vote a Walgreens...

Correction.(NEWS)(Correction Notice)
August 8, 2005... The contact information given for Dr. Fresh in the July 18 issue of MMR was incorrect. The correct address and phone are: 6645 Caballero Blvd. Buena Park, Calif. 90620; (866) 373-7374.

Wal-Mart: friend of the environment.(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... McKINNEY, Texas -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has debuted an environmentally friendly Super-center here with distinctive elements ranging from recycled rubber sidewalks to a windmill. "We see it as a next step in evaluating the impact we leave on...

Retailers file suit against Visa.(Visa USA and Visa International)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Several major supermarket and drug store chains have filed a lawsuit against Visa USA and Visa International in the Federal District Court in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They claim that the fees that Visa charges to...

Supermarkets help define the American way of life.(75 Years of Supermarket Retailing)
August 8, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The birth of the supermarket format 75 years ago did more than revolutionize food retailing. It changed people's lives. Created in the early years of the Great Depression, the format had the immediate effect of lowering the...

'A purchasing agent for the consumer'.(supermarkets)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The supermarket industry has evolved in a number of ways over the past 75 years. One significant milestone involved the industry's response to the consumer movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Food Marketing Institute senior vice...

Evolution of an industry.(supermarkets)(Chronology)
August 8, 2005... 1930 * Michael Cullen opens America's first supermarket--King Kullen--in the New York City borough of Queens. * The first line of retail frozen food makes its debut in Springfield, Mass. The initial product line, marketed under the...

Supers: an industry in motion.(supermarkets)
August 8, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Change has been a constant throughout the history of the supermarket. "This industry has moved forward at a nonstop pace of improvement, of understanding the changing needs of shoppers, and of reacting to changing economic...

Food retailing is about servicing the customer.
August 8, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Now that it has reached its 75th anniversary, what lies ahead for the supermarket industry? Food Marketing Institute president and chief executive officer Tim Hammonds states that it is impossible to predict what the format...

King Kullen is where supermarketing began.(King Kullen Grocery Co.)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Michael J. Cullen changed the face of retailing 75 years ago when he opened the first King Kullen Grocery Co. outlet. The 36,000-square-foot store, housed in a vacant garage on Jamaica Ave. in the New York City borough of Queens,...

A sense of family has always permeated company.(King Kullen Grocery Co.)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- When Michael J. Cullen died at the age of 52 in 1936, many thought it would be the end of King Kullen Grocery Co., which he had founded just six years earlier, or at least his family's involvement with it. They had not reckoned...

Keeping the mix up-to-the-minute.(King Kullen Grocery Co.)
August 8, 2005... BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- The 47 King Kullen Grocery Co. outlets that serve communities on Long Island and Staten Island in New York City would no doubt impress the man who created the supermarket format three-quarters of a century ago. In many...

Anniversary is a way to thank customers.(King Kullen Grocery Co.'s 75th birthday)
August 8, 2005... BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- The occasion of King Kullen Grocery Co.'s 75th birthday is cause for celebration among customers and employees as well as the founding family that still controls the retailer. For the past 12 weeks the creator of the...

King Kullen fearless in face of competition.(King Kullen Grocery Co.)
August 8, 2005... BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- King Kullen Grocery Co. has faced all manner of competition during its three-quarters of a century in business, none more formidable than today. In Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, where 46 of the the company's...

Publix a pacesetter from the start.(Publix Super Markets Inc.)
August 8, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- The supermarket industry was the child of innovation, and it has grown and prospered despite intense competition because of the creativity and vision of its best operators. Publix Super Markets Inc., which is celebrating...

A first-rate place to work.(Publix Super Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- Founder George Jenkins passed away in 1996, but his spirit still pervades and inspires Publix Super Markets Inc. Though Publix was the target of some employee discrimination suits in the late 1990s, it has won many honors...

Cookie-cutter approach shunned.(Publix Super Markets Inc.)
August 8, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- George Jenkins first caught the attention of the grocery industry in 1940 when he opened his first supermarket--an outlet that was years ahead of its time. That tradition has endured, because Publix Super Markets Inc. stores...

Hispanics find warm welcome.(Publix Supermarkets Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- In response to the growth of Florida's Hispanic population, Publix has revamped two of its stores to appeal to this dynamic demographic. The units, which were reopened this spring under the Publix Sabor banner, feature...

Publix shares Jenkins' true passion for giving.(Publix Super Markets Inc.; George Jenkins)
August 8, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla. -- While Publix has secured enviable customer loyalty by providing a superior shopping experience, the company has shown itself to be a good neighbor by generously giving to the communities it serves. That philanthropic...

Stater Bros. expansion a sure bet; a new HQ/DC is now under construction.(Stater Brothers Markets Inc.)
August 8, 2005... COLTON, Calif -- If there were any question about whether Stater Bros. Markets is confident about its future, that question is being laid to rest at an abandoned air force base about seven miles from the company's headquarters here. Work...

Southern California to see retailer debut more stores.(Stater Brothers Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... COLTON, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Markets is capitalizing on the continuing population growth in southern California to extend and deepen its market penetration. Earlier this year the chain opened two outlets, one in Wildomar, in Riverside...

Brown's career more than supers.(Jack Brown of Stater Brothers Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... COLTON, Calif. -- For the last 23 years of its 68-year history Stater Bros. Markets has been led by chairman and chief executive officer Jack Brown. Not surprisingly, the company bears the deep imprint of his character and personality, while it...

Steady progress still a company hallmark.(Stater Brothers Markets Inc.)
August 8, 2005... COLTON, Calif. -- The grocery chain now dominating the supermarket scene in California's San Bernardino and Riverside counties had its origins in the tough times of the Great Depression. In 1936 twin brothers Cleo and Leo Stater bought a...

Scoreboard.(retail trade)(Illustration)
August 8, 2005... Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change A&P (1) 06/18 3.38 bil +3.20 Office Depot 06/25 3.36 bil +6.40 SDM (2) 06/18 1.62 bil...

Biggest gainers.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 8, 2005... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 07/22/05 vs.06/24/05 Change Office Depot 28.06 +5.81 +26.1 Smart & Final 14.08 +2.63 +23.0 Lowe's 65.73 ...

Biggest losers.(retail stores)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 8, 2005... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 07/22/05 vs.06/24/05 Change drugstore.com 3.73 -0.63 -14.4 Cardinal Health 57.89 -2.62 -4.3 Cost Plus ...

Most active.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 8, 2005... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk.Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 07/22/05 Shares 06/24/05 Office Depot 29,649 12.1 +318.6...

Service key to Kroger resurgence.
August 8, 2005... CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co. posted a double-digit gain in first quarter net behind solid top-line growth and successful expense-control efforts. With earnings for the period well above Wall Street's expectations, the company ratcheted up its...

Walgreens shines.
August 8, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Buoyed by a double-digit gain in same-store pharmacy sales and strengthened gross margin, Walgreen Co. rang up a 20.1% bottom-line increase for the three months ended May 31. Net income for fiscal 2005's quarter escalated to...

Sears Holdings finishes in red in debut quarter.
August 8, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- In the first quarterly financial filing following the March 24, 2005, union of Kmart Holding Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co., the new Sears Holdings Corp. recorded red ink on both a reported and pro forma basis for the...

Dollar General net is off 4.3%.(income)
August 8, 2005... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- With margins squeezed and costs escalating, Dollar General Corp. saw operating and net income erode in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. In view of the disappointing start, management warned Wall Street that achieving...

Closeout chain.(Tuesday Morning Corp. profits rise)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... DALLAS -- Tuesday Morning Corp., a closeout retailer, posted a 5.2% rise in net income to $10.5 million on a 3.8% increase in sales to $218.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30. "Traffic in the quarter was equivalent to last...

Cast an eye on India.(bright prospect for foreign retailers)
August 8, 2005... While the rapid ascent of China in the economic hierarchy has garnered the lion's share of attention in the press and among politicians, another country in Asia whose fortunes are on the rise may, in the end, prove to be more hospitable to mass...

Potential's there but it's unfulfilled.(CIES food association)
August 8, 2005... BUDAPEST -- The trouble with CIES--The Food Business Forum is that it could be so much more consistently effective than it is. Like the little girl in the fabled couplet, when it's good, it's very good; when it's bad... Some background is...

Moderate growth is seen in second half; gains should be 4% to 4.5%.(OPINION)
August 8, 2005... The United States economy is showing signs of health, although it will likely not be as strong as it was in 2004, causing gross domestic product (GDP) growth to slow to 3.1% in 2005 from last year's 4.4%, predicts Clear Thinking Group LLC, a...

Loblaws' sales rise.(Loblaw Companies Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... LOBLAWS' SALES RISE: Loblaw Cos. reported a 7% rise in second quarter profit to $211 million (Canadian). The improvement comes despite a 5 cents-per-share charge for restructuring and stock-based compensation. The retailer, which operates under...

Poland's retailers.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... POLAND'S RETAILERS: Foreign companies dominate the retail scene in Poland, with such operators as Metro AG, Tesco PLC and Ahold NV leading the way. In fact, the six largest retailers in Poland are all foreign-owned.

Metro reduces pay.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... METRO REDUCES PAY: Metro AG has reportedly cut its voluntary, nonwage payments to 55,000 employees at its German hypermarket and superstore divisions. The company says it made the move, which will take effect in January, in order to improve the...

Somerfield stores.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... SOMERFIELD STORES: The Somerfield supermarket group in the United Kingdom may be forced by Britain's Competition Commission to sell 14 of the former Safeway stores it acquired last year. Rival grocer Morrisons acquired the Safeway chain, but...

Europe is Carrefour's toughest competitive challenge.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... PARIS -- Carrefour SA reported a pro forma sales gain of 3.1% for the second quarter, despite operating in a deflationary environment throughout Europe. That figure does not include the effect of currency exchange rates. Carrefour has...

Why China works for Wal-Mart.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Seeing great opportunities ahead, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has ramped up its store-development plans for China, and it now hopes to boost its store count there from the current 48 to 90 by the end of 2006. "We are in 22 Chinese...

Auchan ups its presence in Moscow.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... MOSCOW -- Auchan Group SA is expanding its presence in Russia. The company's first Atac supermarket in the country will begin operating in Moscow in September, and Auchan may open its seventh hypermarket in the Moscow area in November. The...

Seiyu expects difficult '05.(GLOBAL)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... TOKYO -- Seiyu Co. has lowered its 2005 outlook from breakeven to an expected net loss of 7.5 billion yen ($66.5 million), prompting the resignation of chief executive officer Masao Kiuchi. It will be the fourth straight year of red ink for...

Coles Myer enters PL hair care.(products launch)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... TOORONGA, Australia -- Coles Myer Ltd. has launched the first group of products in one of its three new private label lines. It consists of seven hair care items in the company's medium-price brand--"You'll Love Coles." The other...

Pathmark.(Church and Dwight Company Inc. promotes laundry detergent)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... PATHMARK: Church & Dwight Co.'s Arm & Hammer liquid laundry detergent, 128 ounces, was offered in a "buy one, get one free" deal. It required the use of the Pathmark Advantage Club Card, and there was a limit of one purchase with it. The...

Rite aid.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... RITE AID: An online circular, effective from July 17 to July 23 for the nation's Southern region, enabled shoppers purchasing Sun Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s Banana Boat Dark Tanning Oil to get a second container for 50% off the regular retail...

Kmart.(Kmart Holding Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... KMART: One liter of Procter & Gamble Co.'s Scope mouthwash was promoted at $3.49 in a circular that was distributed in Green Bay, Wisc., and that was effective from July 17 to July 23. It also contained a special deal--15% off--on select...

Longs.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... LONGS: A special deal in a circular distributed in Seattle and effective from July 17 to July 23 consisted of two 4-ounce containers of Unilever Home & Personal Care USA's Axe men's deodorant spray for $7. It also promoted Revlon Inc.'s High...

Gristede's.(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... GRISTEDE'S: Annie's Naturals salad dressings, assorted varieties in 8-ounce units, were featured at $2.89 in a circular distributed in the New York City borough of Manhattan and effective to August 17. It also offered assorted varieties of...

Costco expands upscale offerings on Canadian Web site.(Costco Wholesale Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. is expanding its offerings of high-end electronics products and furniture on www.costco.ca, its Canadian web site, which was launched earlier this year. The company plans to have the same number of...

Bargain shopping.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- High technology is transforming the venerable practice of cherry picking--the rather resentful term retailers apply to customers who purchase only sale items. The days may be numbered when a shopper sits at her kitchen table,...

Schnucks teams up with bank.(Schnuck Markets Inc.)(U.S. Bancorp)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Schnuck Markets Inc. is partnering with U.S. Bank, a U.S. Bancorp subsidiary, to provide financial services in its 66 outlets in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Full-service banking facilities and ATMs will be installed in 25...

NRF, MasterCard forecasts disagree.(National Retail Federation)(MasterCard International)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Retailers are being confronted with notably different forecasts for 2005 back-to-school expenditures. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is projecting that parents will spend less than last year. MasterCard International, on...

Getting message across is important.(MERCHANDISING)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- The social expressions category continues to evolve into a prime market for retailers because more and more consumers are enjoying both giving and receiving greeting cards, candles and, increasingly, gift cards. Sales of gift...

Cards become more precise.(SOCIAL EXPRESSIONS)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- More than 90% of American households send and receive greeting cards. That fact alone makes the category an important one to both the top and bottom lines of retailers. According to a report from Business Trend Analysts Inc....

Candle appeal has no bounds.(MERCHANDISING)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Candle sales are being increasingly challenged by other fragrance items, including diffusers and room sprays. There are several important factors, however, that should continue to spur candle volume. For example, they can be a...

Paramount makes big plans for 100th anniversary.(Paramount Cards Holding Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Paramount Cards Holding Corp., the country's oldest greeting cards company, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2006. It is currently planning events to publicize the milestone and to promote the company's offerings. ...

'Today's niche category is tomorrow's mainstream'.(NICHE BEAUTY)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- A good deal of the growth in the vast mass market beauty care business is coming from specialized and emerging segments, or niches. And yet, many suppliers are reluctant to be identified as "niche players" for fear they will not get...

Cosmetics thrive on variety.(MERCHANDISING)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- While the cosmetics business is dominated by such heavyweights as L'Oreal, Maybelline Inc., Revlon Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl, there is still room for niche players to meet the needs of underserved consumer segments....

When no hair becomes trendy.(MERCHANDISING)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Although it has taken a while to happen, the men's grooming, or personal care, category is booming. The business is broad and varied, encompassing everything from razors and trimmers to skin care, fragrance and bath items....

Antiaging is buzz in skin care.(MERCHANDISING)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- The skin care business is flourishing these days, with much of the excitement being generated by antiaging products. "We're seeing a lot of activity in skin care, especially the antiaging items," says Mary Anson, cosmetics and...

Standouts give bath a boost.(NICHE BEAUTY)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- In a bath category that has suffered from too much sameness and too many me-too products, a few brands stand out as really distinctive. One of these is Canus Vermont LLC, which in recent years has extended distribution of its...

Celebrity fragrances, men's lines lead pack.(MERCHANDISING)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- The performance of the flagrance category in the mass market is a mixed story, with certain niches driving consumer interest. Celebrity-endorsed fragrances have been a hot segment in the last year. Elizabeth Arden Inc., which...

People respond to innovation.(Health care products)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- New products are the lifeblood of almost any beauty care category, and niche suppliers are as conscious of that fact as the general market megabrands. Next month, for example, HeadBlade LLC will introduce HeadFade, a...

Profoot executive.(Itai Fridman appointed)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... PROFOOT EXECUTIVE: Profoot Inc. has named Itai Fridman as director of marketing. He replaces Steven Bruner. Fridman's responsibilities include such comprehensive category management as promotions, planogramming and data anaylsis.

P&G/Wella Ag changes.(Dr. Heiner Gurtler quits from Wella Ag )(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... P&G/WELLA AG CHANGES: Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) has announced that Dr. Heiner Gurtler will step down from his position as group president of global prestige and professional care and chief executive officer of Wella. He has separately advised...

Pentel of America.(appointments)(retirements)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... PENTEL OF AMERICA: Pentel of America Ltd. has announced the retirement of president Minoru Osada after serving 38 years with the company. He is succeeded by Isseki Nakayama, the former executive vice president of sales and marketing.

GMA elects officers.(Grocery Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... GMA ELECTS OFFICERS: The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has elected Hershey Co. chairman, president and chief executive officer Richard Lenny as chairman of the GMA board of directors for a two-year term. GMA also named board officers...

HeadBlade VP of sales.(HeadBlade Co. LLC appoints David Bilgre as vice president)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... HEADBLADE VP OF SALES: HeadBlade Co. LLC has appointed David Bilgre vice president of sales, with the responsibility for overseeing national and international sales. He replaces Danny Huckabee, who has been working for the company as a...

COO at Healthnotes.(appoints Jeffrey Beyer as chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... COO AT HEALTHNOTES: Healthnotes Inc. has appointed Jeffrey Beyer, a longtime Johnson & Johnson executive, as chief operating officer.

Levi's newer side.(Levi Strauss & Co.)
August 8, 2005... NEW YORK -- Scott LaPorta, president of the Levi Strauss Signature division, has ample reason to celebrate. The division, which in July marked its second anniversary, has generated strong sales in the mass retail channel, capturing market...

Jack Fruth, founder of chain, dies.(PEOPLE)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 8, 2005... POINT PLEASANT, W. Va. -- Jack Fruth, founder and chairman of Fruth Pharmacy, died on July 19 in Huntington, W. Va. Fruth started the company in 1952, and it now has 22 outlets in West Virginia and Ohio. Industry observers point out...

Kmart names Whitsett senior VP.(Kmart stores promoted Peter Whitsett)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Kmart, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., has promoted Peter Whitsett to the position of senior vice president and Kmart merchandising officer. He oversees all merchandise categories for Kmart stores and reports...

Chow heads marketing at Sears Retail.(Sears, Roebuck and Co. appoints Joan Chow)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears, Roebuck and Co., a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., has appointed Joan Chow to the post of senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Sears Retail. "Joan is a proven leader who will provide...

Family Dollar tabs George for president.(Family Dollar Stores Inc. appoints Robert George )(Brief Article)
August 8, 2005... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Robert George has joined Family Dollar Stores Inc. as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. "His experience in sourcing and merchandising will position Family Dollar to build our merchandising and...

ShopKo vote is set.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... SHOPKO VOTE IS SET: ShopKo Stores Inc. shareholders will meet on September 14 to vote on approving the company's acquisition by Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Inc., a private equity investment firm in Minneapolis. ShopKo believes that the deal...

Marsh Illinois debut.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2005... MARSH ILLINOIS DEBUT: Marsh Supermarkets Inc. opened its first store in Illinois on August 22. The 66,000-square-foot unit is in Naperville and features the company's new lifestyle format, including a courtyard with produce, seasonal items,...