Albertson's

November 20, 2002 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- ICON Group International Ltd. today released two comprehensive studies on labor productivity and vertical gap analysis benchmarks for The Kroger Co.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it would not challenge Kroger Co.'s acquisition of 18 Raley's Corp. supermarkets in Las Vegas.

PHILADELPHIA, -- Acme Markets, Inc., a unit of Albertsons, has purchased a prominent portion of the former Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and plans to erect a 50,000 sq. ft. combo store on the South Philly site. Food-drug combo stores, such as its Albertsons Sav-On and Jewel-Osco formats, form the Boise, Idaho-based chain's key strategy for growth.

NEW YORK - No. 1 drug chain Walgreen Co. on Thursday became the latest retailer to say it may have to pull out of a state Medicaid program because of cutbacks in reimbursements, Reuters reports.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catalina Marketing Corporation announced a pilot agreement with Maruetsu, Japan's top supermarket chain, to install its electronic couponing network in six of its stores in the Tokyo market.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Albertson's, Acme Markets and Big Y are among the chains that selected Unicru Inc.'s hourly hiring management system solution in the second quarter of 2002.

PITTSBURGH - Giant Eagle Inc. on Tuesday officially announced it has formed a joint venture with Guttman Enterprises, operators of the Crossroads convenience stores, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

CHICAGO - Home improvement retail chain Home Depot Inc. pushed aside Kroger Co. to become the second-largest U.S. retailer behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to the 2002 tally of sales by Stores magazine.