PEAPOD.(Peapod Inc.)(Brief Article)

PEAPOD, the Internet grocery unit of Royal Ahold NV, will stop shipping items throughout the nation to cut costs and narrow its focus but will continue to serve Washington and four other strongholds.

The Skokie, I11.-based company will refer all other customers to closely held NetGrocer.

Peapod's national service allowing customers to have orders shipped anywhere in the continental United States will be discontinued May 15, the company said. Customers who want the service will be linked to NetGrocer's Web site.

Royal Ahold, …