The Food Institute Report articles from September 2004

The Food Institute Report archives from September 2004

Hurricane Frances bearing down on Florida.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... As of the morning of Sept. 3, Hurricane Frances weakened into a strong Category 3 storm with 115 mph top sustained winds, down from 120 mph earlier in the day and 145 mph Sept. 2. Forecasters said they could not rule out its strengthening again...

"Real" sales growth weak at supermarkets.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Although "real" or deflated sales at U.S. grocery stores increased 5.0% from the prior month during July, sales were up only 0.7% from the same month last year, according to exclusive Food Institute analysis of retail sales data from Census and...

Eating & drinking place "real" growth at 8.3% through July.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... "Real" sales at the nation's eating and drinking places, meanwhile, advanced 4.8% from the prior month during July and were up 7.9% from the same month last year. That's the largest gain on prior year levels since April. On an annualized basis,...

New specialty grocery market will open in major metro areas.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... With a goal of opening over 100 locations during the first three years of operations, global private equity and venture capital firm Crosspoint Ventures will fund "Forte" Markets with an initial investment of $10 million into a specialty market...

Donut and c-ctore chains join forces for major push in Cleveland.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Dunkin' Donuts will begin a major expansion in the Cleveland, OH market, where it expects to open as many as 125 new shops in the next six years. It entered into a development agreement with convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard,...

Operators rank Tyson as top manufacturer; McDonald's tops manufacturers' list of operators.
September 6, 2004... Foodservice operators ranked Tyson Foods the top manufacturer, followed by Coca-Cola and General Mills, while manufacturers ranked McDonald's, Wendy's and Subway as the top three operators, according to the 2004 FoodservicElite study, titled...

Gristede.(News In A Minute)(Red Apple Group Inc)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Gristede's signed a contract with a national internet retailer to sell and fulfill grocery orders through its web venue, slated to start shortly. Meanwhile, the 48-unit chain attributed a decline in sales for the latest fiscal periods to a...

BJ.(News In A Minute)(B J's Wholesale Club Inc)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Beginning this fall, BJ's plans to open two new clubs in the Metro New York market exclusively for foodservice businesses under the name "ProFoods Restaurant Supply." The target member is the professional food vendor or restaurant owner. The...

IGA International formed a Southeast Asia buying group.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * IGA International formed a Southeast Asia buying group. This new, closely linked buying group will start with the combined annual buying power of about 150 large retail stores within their disparate Southeast Asian markets. M-C McLane...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Wal-Mart Stores Inc. withdrew plans to build its first store in Washington, DC, after senior executives at the company visited the proposed site, saying it did not meet their "operational requirements". They have vowed to look for a new store...

Wal-Mart.(News In A Minute)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Wal-Mart dropped plans for a store on Chicago's South Side amid concerns about minimum wage and benefit standards that may be imposed on "big-box" stores... Chicago Sun-Times (Aug. 31)

Wal-mart and Target took the top two slots as retailers.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Wal-mart and Target took the top two slots as retailers with the most courteous employees, according to BIGresearch's latest ranking of retailers... CNNMoney.com (Aug. 27)

Coke.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Coke is planning to switch the name of Diet Sprite to Diet Sprite Zero. Though the soft drink's formula will stay the same, the brand's look will change noticeably... The Atlanta JournalConstitution.

Sara Lee Bakery Group.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Sara Lee Bakery Group introduced two varieties of Sara Lee Delightful toaster-size bagels--Plain and 100% Whole Wheat.

Bravo! Foods International Corp.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Bravo! Foods International Corp. introduced Slim Slammers, fortified milk products with one 1% low fat milk with one-half the carbs, one-half the calories and one-third more calcium than regular milk.

Frito-Lay.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Frito-Lay moved entirely to corn oil for its snack foods last year, but it is costing the company $30 million to $40 million a year extra in oil costs. The company chose corn oil because it has a positive health profile and is widely...

Old Dutch Foods Inc.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Kettle-chip maker Old Dutch Foods Inc. will expand its reach beyond the Upper Midwest and Canada with Old Dutch Crunch in 2005, in a rollout that will begin with markets such as Kansas City, MO, St. Louis and Chicago. Old Dutch's potatoes are...

Bumble Bee Seafoods.(News In A Minute)
September 6, 2004... * As of July, sales for two of Bumble Bee Seafoods. latest offerings--Prime Fillet Solid White Albacore and Touch of Lemon--exceeded the 10 million can mark, according to the company, which launched the items during the third quarter of 2003.

Woodside's Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * At mid-year, shipments of California wine were up 4% to 103.4 million cases, following several years of overabundant supplies, according to a midyear report released by Woodside's Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, a wine industry consulting...

Russell Research.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * A study of 869 wine drinkers conducted by Russell Research indicates that 66% of wine drinkers agree with the statement "I wish more restaurants provided guidance in choosing a wine to go with my meal". Also, 50% of respondents agreed they...

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. opened its new $9 million distribution center in Waterbury, VT. The 52,000-sq. ft. facility will eventually allow Green Mountain Coffee to more than triple its roasting, packaging, distribution and storing...

UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.(News In A Minute)(University of California (Los Angeles))(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * High amounts of one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel, and herring may protect against the memory loss caused by Alzheimer's, even when there are already brain lesions indicating advanced disease, according to a study at...

Monsanto Co.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Monsanto Co. launched new soybeans that will reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids in processed soybean oil. The company plans to offer Iowa soybean growers the opportunity to plant the soybeans for the 2005 crop season. The soybeans will be...

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Pet spending reached $32.4 billion in 2003 and is projected to grow 5.9% to $34.3 billion in 2004, well above the $17 billion spent in 1994, according to The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. In 2004, Americans are expected to...

Apio, Inc., the food subsidiary of Landec Corporation, introduced a low carbohydrate vegetable tray product.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Apio, Inc., the food subsidiary of Landec Corporation, introduced a low carbohydrate vegetable tray product. The new 19-oz. vegetable tray with Lighthouse brand One Carb Plus' ranch dip began shipping to retailers and mass merchandisers...

Seattle, WA-based quick service restaurant chain Taco Del Mar completed franchise negotiations with Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the parent company of Mac's Convenience Stores LLC.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Seattle, WA-based quick service restaurant chain Taco Del Mar completed franchise negotiations with Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the parent company of Mac's Convenience Stores LLC. The deal allows Taco Del Mar to open co-branded locations...

The 23-store fast-casual restaurant chain Pat & Oscar's is partnering with pharmaceutical reps to push its catered meals inside doctors' offices.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * The 23-store fast-casual restaurant chain Pat & Oscar's is partnering with pharmaceutical reps to push its catered meals inside doctors' offices. "By catering a meal to their office, it's seen as a good way for [pharmaceutical reps] to get...

Sysco Food Services of Idaho.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Sysco Food Services of Idaho teamed with 10 restaurants in that state to make up Idaho's Local Flavor, a cooperative marketing campaign to leverage the collective resources of independents in negotiating ad rates with local media... The...

National Restaurant Association.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * In July, restaurant operators reported positive same-store sales for the 12th consecutive month, and the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index stood at 102.9--a solid 2% above its July 2003 level, but down 0.6% from...

Ruby Tuesday Inc.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Ruby Tuesday Inc. plans to stop using menus that list nutritional data for every item and offer the same information instead on 9-inch by 6-inch table cards... The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 31)

Citing a 20% rise in costs over the past year, Gloria Jean's says it will likely follow Starbucks' lead and raise its prices.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Citing a 20% rise in costs over the past year, Gloria Jean's says it will likely follow Starbucks' lead and raise its prices, but Caribou Coffee Co. says it has no plans to pass those increases on to customers... The Wall Street Journal...

Checkers/Rally's franchisee, National Restaurant Development, Inc., will open 20 new restaurants.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Checkers/Rally's franchisee, National Restaurant Development, Inc., will open 20 new restaurants over the next five years in the Los Angeles, Phoenix and Nashville markets.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * A Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. franchisee, Ali Chunara, will open five new restaurants in the Atlanta area over the next five years. Under the agreement, Chunara will own and operate a total of 17 Checkers locations throughout the...

Sterling Cafe is the first Washington restaurant to become certified organic, according to the Washington Sate Department of Agriculture.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Sterling Cafe is the first Washington restaurant to become certified organic, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The distinction means the restaurant voluntarily chose to comply with a rigid set of standards...

Carvel.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * The Carvel ice cream chain plans to add 15 stand-alone stores during the next few years in Maryland, where it has just one store now... WJZ 13 (Aug. 31)

Arby's Franchise Trust.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * Arby's Franchise Trust signed four multi-unit development agreements with existing franchisees to develop 30 new Arby's restaurants in the next four years in NE, IA, IL, WI, VA and NC.

CiCi's Pizza.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * CiCi's Pizza plans to enter new markets and will add 84 units in 2004, primarily in Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania... Today's Restaurant News (August)

Subway.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * The Subway restaurant chain eventually plans to offer Subway-branded food in grocery stores... The Connecticut Post (Sept. 1)

McDonald's will begin a 50-store test of the Hain Celestial Group.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... * McDonald's will begin a 50-store test of the Hain Celestial Group's McVeggie Burger in Manhattan in September.

Between 2000 and 2020, Americans will increase their spending by about 18% per person at full-service restaurants.(On The Foodservice Front)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Between 2000 and 2020, Americans will increase their spending by about 18% per person at full-service restaurants, and about 6% per person at fast food establishments... USDA's Amber Waves (September)

Consumers saved $3 billion by using coupons in 2003.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Manufacturers offered more than $250 billion in coupons in 2003, resulting in $3 billion in consumer savings. In 2003, 77% of people reported they used coupons when shopping, saving an average of 11.5% on their grocery bills alone, according to...

Mergers & acquisitions.
September 6, 2004... The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division reached a settlement to allow the proposed acquisition of Bumble Bee Seafoods by Connors Bros. Income Fund (see FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT, Feb. 16, page 2). For more, see page 18. Cargill Inc.,...

Maker of wonder bread, twinkies hires turnaround firm.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Interstate Bakeries Corp. hired a turnaround firm and delayed filing its annual report with the SEC. The company cited several issues, including the "possibility" that its auditors could raise questions about its ability to continue as a going...

Reduced meat-eaters drive vegetarian foods market.
September 6, 2004... Within the past five years, the U.S. vegetarian foods market has steadily grown from $646 million in 1998 to $1.6 billion in 2003. Major food manufacturers that utilize mainstream advertising, fuel the vegetarian food market by catering to...

Latest financial reports (000 omitted).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 omitted) Current % Chge. Year Year Ago ALBERTSONS, INC. (Boise, ID) 13 Wks. To July 29: Sales $10,194,000 14.0% Net...

Regional soft drink markets compound annual growth rate.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... REGIONAL SOFT DRINK MARKETS COMPOUND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE (Source: Beverage Marketing Corp.) CAGR CAGR CAGR Region 1998-2003 1990-1995 1985-1990 South 0.7% 3.0% ...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 6, 2004... Correction: The June 7 Food Institute Report, page 7, included United Foods, Inc. in the "Latest Financial Reports" column. The Pictsweet Co. (formerly United Foods, Inc.) is a privately-held company and these figures do not relate to the...

U.S. faces sanctions over Byrd amendment.(Washington)
September 6, 2004... The World Trade Organization said leading U.S. export markets can throw up barriers against American products because Congress and the Bush administration failed to repeal a popular trade law that violates international rules, reported The...

USDA announces surplus commodities it plans to donate.(Washington)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... USDA announced the surplus and purchased commodities that it expects to make available for donation to states for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in fiscal year 2004,...

Dairy industry benefits from new dietary guidelines.(Washington)
September 6, 2004... The $50 billion U.S. dairy industry received a boost from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which suggests adults increase their consumption of milk products to three servings per day, up from the two servings long suggested for many...

Food recalls reported.(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Dandee Foods, Jacksonville, FL, is recalling 5.15-oz. "The Club" sandwiches distributed to convenience stores in FL and GA. Reason for recall: The products may be contaminated with listeria. Fresh Food Concepts, Inc., Buena Park, CA, is...

In the courts ...(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... A federal judge dismissed an antitrust lawsuit against Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) saying there is no evidence that the group has a monopoly on milk sales in dozens of school districts in Kentucky and Tennessee. The suit, filed in U.S....

... World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrators dismissed a U.S. appeal of an April decision that the Canadian Wheat Board meets international rules.(Trade News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrators dismissed a U.S. appeal of an April decision that the Canadian Wheat Board meets international rules, undermining the Bush administration's efforts to dismantle the grain marketer. The U.S. claims...

... The EU resolved a trade dispute with Moscow that threatened up to $1.4 billion in European meat exports to Russia.(Trade News)(European Union)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... The EU resolved a trade dispute with Moscow that threatened up to $1.4 billion in European meat exports to Russia. Russia began blocking EU beef, pork and poultry imports on June 1, insisting that the 25 EU countries use a uniform...

... The U.S. is pressuring the Chinese government to weaken restrictions.(Trade News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... The U.S. is pressuring the Chinese government to weaken restrictions recently imposed on the export to China of American soybeans. Beijing is insisting that a mutually agreed extension to six months of a quarantine period for soybean health...

... The Canadian Food Inspection Agency lifted all remaining movement restrictions on birds, bird products and bird by-products in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.(Trade News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... The Canadian Food Inspection Agency lifted all remaining movement restrictions on birds, bird products and bird by-products in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The removal of these restrictions brings an official end to the avian influenza...

You should know ...(Safe Quality Food)(Coronet Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ... Media reports saying Coronet Foods Inc. had been cleared in the salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 400 people who purchased sandwiches at Sheetz convenience stores in PA, OH, MD and WV may have been a bit premature. Food...

Revisions to lamb reporting definitions.(Noted In The Federal Register)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... REVISIONS TO LAMB REPORTING DEFINITIONS: USDA issued a final rule that amends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting regulations, effective Nov. 1, 2004, to modify the requirements for the submission of information on domestic and imported boxed...

Crawfish tail meat.(Noted In The Federal Register)
September 6, 2004... CRAWFISH TAIL MEAT: The Department of Commerce (DOC) initiated new shipper reviews of the antidumping duty order on freshwater crawfish tail meat from the People's Republic of China in response to timely and properly filed requests from Qingdao...

Produce.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... Hurricane Frances Threatens Florida's Citrus & vegetable Growers Growers in the east central growing regions of Florida were preparing for heavy winds and rain with the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Frances in the morning of Sept. 4....

Canned vegetables.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... ARTICHOKES--U.S. imports of canned artichokes as of July 1 were down 9% to 33.1 million pounds, with Spain accounting for 88% of the total. The average price per pound during June was 96 cents per pound, down two cents from 2003, according to...

Tomato products.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... During the week ending Sept. 4, California processing tomato deliveries are projected to total 960,015 tons, bringing the season-to-date total to over 8.1 million tons, up 23% from last season, reported the Processing Tomato Advisory Board. ...

Frozen vegetables.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... POTATOES--U.S. imports of French fries as of July 1 were up 25% from the previous year to 907.0 million pounds. USDA HAS PURCHASED FRESH POTATOES FOR PROCESSING * Shipments between Sept. 16-Nov. 15, 2004 * ...

Canned fruits.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... Snokist Workers Reject Contract Union workers at Snokist Growers. cannery in Terrace Heights, WA rejected what would have been a first-ever contract Aug. 30. About 200 of the 270 workers represented by the union voted. The tentative...

Processed fish.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... Merger Given The OK Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada-based Connors Bros. Income Fund, the world's biggest producer of canned sardines, reached a settlement with the Justice Department's antitrust division in regards to its proposed...

Dried vegetables.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... CALIFORNIA BEANS--Trading activity remains very slow with very light demand. CALIFORNIA DRIED BEAN PRICES Current Week Year Ago Per cwt. (f.o.b.) Baby Lima $40.00-$41.00 $31.00-$32.00...

Dried fruit & nuts.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... DRIED CHERRIES--USDA purchased 44,352 cases of dried cherries (8/2-lb.) for a total cost of $2,600,247. The purchase was made entirely from the Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc. and deliveries are to be made from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2004....

Frozen fruits.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... FROZEN PEACHES--USDA offers to purchase 61,600 cases of frozen freestone, diced peaches (96/4.4-oz.) Deliveries are to be made from Dec. 1, 2004 through Apr. 30, 2005. For more information, contact USDA at (202) 720-4517. U.S. IMPORTS OF...

Juices & concentrates.(Markets)
September 6, 2004... CITRUS UPDATE--As growers continue to recover from Hurricane Charley, which caused a loss of $150 million in citrus fruit, not including damage to trees, barns, packing houses and equipment, the current path that Hurricane France is on could...

Farm prices.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... WHAT FARMERS WERE PAID FOR FARM PRODUCTS-AUG. (Source: USDA) % Chge. % Chge. Commodity & Unit Aug. Last Mo. Last Yr. Beans, Dry Edible, Cwt. 20.000 3.6% ...

Butter.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... BUTTER MARKET, SEPT. 3 (Source: USDA) Cents Per Pound: 09/03/2004 08/27/2004 Chge. Grade AA 172.00 159.00 +13.00

Cheese.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET SEPT. 3 Cents Per Pound: 09/03/2004 Chge. Fr. Last Wk. Baxrels 156.00 +3.00 Blocks (40-lbs.) 158.00 +5.00

Eggs.(Markets)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS SEPT. 3 (Source: USDA) This Wk. Ending Chng. From Cents per dozen: Week Aug. 27 Aug. 27 Extra Large-NY 58-62 58-62 NC Large-NY ...

Chicken.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF SEPT. 6 Cents Per Pound: This Week Last Week Chicago 58.00-61.00 62.00-65.00 Cleveland Too Few Too Few Detroit Too Few Too...

Futures prices.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... FUTURES PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Cash Sept. Dec. As of Sept. 2, 2004: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $2.25 $2.28 $2.36...

Commodity prices.(Markets)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 6, 2004... COMMODITY PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Week Week % Chge. Ended Ended Last Sept. 2 Aug. 26...

Dean Foods to exit nutritional beverage business.(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... As a result of significant declines in nutritional beverage volumes during 2004, Dean Foods will exit its nutritional beverage business, which consists of canned aseptic beverages in the meal supplement, weight loss/gain (including low-carb)...

Wholesale food prices inch higher in August; up 5.4% for Jan. 1-Sept. 1.
September 13, 2004... The Producer Price Index for all finished consumer foods increased a slight 0.1% during August over July when prices declined 1.6%. Annualized wholesale food inflation, however, was still up a substantial 5.4% from a year ago. Sharply higher...

Heinz Food IQ Center opening in 2005; unique microwave fries launched.(Intelligence quotient)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Company has unveiled plans to open an international research and technical facility in mid-2005. The Heinz Food Innovation and Quality Center, or "Heinz Food IQ Center," to be located north of Pittsburgh on the...

Panera service caters to small groups.(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Richmond Heights, MO-based Panera Bread Company launched Via Panera, a service that provides carry-out for group settings, at all 669 Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. bakery-cafes nationwide. Via Panera is designed for customers who need...

Asian flavors and cuisines a big hit with diners.
September 13, 2004... American diners are embracing Asian flavors and Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese cuisines. Asian-inspired fusion dishes are being eaten at- and away-from-home. Sales of frozen Asian foods have surpassed $460 million...

Sobeys consolidates in-house brands into one new private label line.(Sobeys Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Canadian supermarket chain Sobeys Inc. unveiled a new private label line called Compliments, which will replace both Sobeys in-house premium brand called Our Compliments and its discount brand, Smart Choice. The initiative is part of the...

J.D. Power and Associates report on restaurant customer satisfaction for the first time.(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Highly satisfied customers visit restaurant chains more frequently, recommend them more often and spend more money compared to customers who experience low levels of satisfaction at quick service and family/casual dining chains, according to...

Safeway will focus on store expansion and remodeling ...
September 13, 2004... Since the California supermarket strike ended in February, Safeway's Vons and Pavilions stores in Southern California have failed to regain shoppers lost during the 4 1/2 -month dispute. The chain hopes to turn around slumping sales with...