Trading Partners

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc. on Tuesday announced plans to sell eight Missouri store locations and close a ninth, effectively completing the company's plan to exit the Springfield, Joplin, Nixa, Republic and Waynesville markets as a food retailer.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Corp. has asked a federal bankruptcy judge to allow it to continue licensing agreements with its major brands, The Associated Press reports.

DALLAS - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched its boycott against Safeway Inc.'s supermarket chains Monday, the Dallas Morning News reports.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Elogex Inc. today announced that Hannaford Bros. Co. has selected the Elogex solution to optimize their transportation operations while maximizing usage of logistics assets.

CHICAGO - Troubled cosmetics maker Revlon Inc. on Tuesday said it has named former Coca-Cola Co. president and chief operating officer Jack Stahl as its chief executive. Stahl, 48, will be the company's third chief executive in five years, Reuters reports.

NEW YORK - Fleming Companies reported improved fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, but the distributor said in a conference call that the impact of Kmart's restructuring won't be fully known until the company announces plans for store closings on March 20.

DALLAS - Fleming Companies Inc. today announced that adjusted net income for the 2001 fourth quarter grew 59.1 percent to $31.1 million, or $0.64 per share on a fully diluted basis.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Corp. is seeking an emergency order from a bankruptcy judge so it can pay companies that supply its stores with alcohol, The Associated Press reports.