Circular Features

CHICAGO - Archibald Candy Co. said this week it is selling its venerable Fannie May and Fanny Farmer candy brands and shutting down its factory here, putting 625 people out of work. The new unidentified owner will supply the candy to keep the Fannie May and Fanny Farmer brands alive.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Holding Corporation said today its third quarter third-quarter loss narrowed although sales fell.

NATICK, Mass. - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.'s November same-store sales went up 8.4 percent, less than the 9.7 percent growth analysts had predicted, as strong sales in the first half of the month stalled in the second half, according to Dow Jones Business News.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - KFC Corp. here is pulling its highly publicized new ad campaign that touted its chicken as being healthy.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Sam's Club division of Wal-Mart Stores here is hoping to get a jump start on the Christmas shopping season -- and the competition -- by holding an "open house" in its membership clubs this weekend.

ATLANTA - After a successful yearlong test in select markets throughout the nation, Kash 4 Gas will be available in Kroger grocery stores throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Rome, Macon, and Dalton, among other locations. Kash 4 Gas is a customer loyalty program produced by Dallas, Texas-based Centego Marketing, Inc., in which shoppers earn free gasoline for purchasing specified grocery items.

Grocers can boost year-round sales of school and office supplies simply by regaining focus on the category and using creative promotions.

TRENTON, N.J. -- It's going to be a peachy keen autumn for peach lovers, but produce department managers might have to do some juggling to fit them into that section.