Real Estate

BOISE, Idaho - The Federal Trade Commission this week granted early termination of the waiting period with respect to the sale of 80 New England-area Osco Drug stores to Brooks Pharmacy.

LONDON - U.K. supermarket chain Asda plans to begin fulfilling its Internet orders through its existing stores, rather than by operating separate warehouses for its online shoppers, according to The Independent newspaper.

MONTVALE, N.J. - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc. today announced that sales for the third quarter ended Dec. 1, 2001, were $2.5 billion in fiscal 2001 vs. $2.4 billion in fiscal 2000. Comparable store sales increased 3.1%.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - The Ahold Corporate Executive Board has appointed Marcelo Silva president of its recently acquired Brazilian supermarket company G. Barbosa, effective Jan. 2, 2002.

PITTSBURGH - Giant Eagle Inc. has announced that it will acquire and convert six County Market grocery stores to Giant Eagle supermarkets in the first quarter of this year.

TOKYO - Aeon Co Ltd, one of Japan's top three supermarket chains, said today it plans to open nearly 60 new stores in the coastal regions of China by 2006, Reuters reports.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc. today confirmed northern California is a strategic market for the company's future growth.

NEW YORK - Dutch supermarkets group Koninklijke Ahold NV was given approval from the Federal Trade Commission on Friday to buy Bruno's Supermarkets Inc., but the company was told it must close two of its own regional groceries stores in two Georgia towns, Reuters reports.