Industry

CAMDEN, N.J. - Campbell Soup Co. today said it is pursuing possible additions to its portfolio of brands, which includes Pepperidge Farm cookies and V8 beverages, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - The FMI Board of Directors voted just before the beginning of this week's convention to approve merging Food Distributors International into FMI effective Jan. 1. Both associations have retailer and wholesaler members, and many companies belong to both.

ST. LOUIS - Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. on Wednesday named Patrick T. Stokes as president and CEO.

BARCELONA - Royal Ahold's Chief Executive, Cees van der Hoeven, recently said the company won't make any sizeable acquisitions this year, Dow Jones reports.

WASHINGTON - Sixteen manufacturers and retailers joined the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Food Marketing Institute in urging the CPG industry to adopt the UCCnet data registry as the North America standard for electronic data sharing.

MINNEAPOLIS - Philippe Starck has collaborated with Target Stores to present Starck Reality, a new collection of more than 50 everyday consumer products jazzed up with modern design.

NEW YORK - A private research group has reported consumer confidence is at its highest level since before the Sept. 11 attacks, indicating consumers are looking with confidence to the end of the recession.

NEW YORK - Best Buy, Pathmark, Stop N Shop, Ranch Market, Vallarta Supermarkets, The Limited and Family Dollar Stores are among several retailers that will be making presentations and speaking on panels at this year's Store-Specific Merchandising and Marketing Conference.