Meijer, Inc.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Let the 2006 mergers begin. Spartan Stores, Inc. here said it plans to acquire D&W Food Centers, Inc., also based here, in a deal that could add $200 million a year to Spartan's sales revenue.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--In a possible harbinger of what many observers expect to be a wave of M&A deals in the retail food sector in the coming year, reports circulated in the British and American business press yesterday that Tesco PLC, the U.K.'s largest grocer, is poised to take a 49 percent stake in Meijer Inc., based here.

PG reports on recent executive changes.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer Inc., based here, has named Bruce Efird to the position of e.v.p. of merchandising, where he will be in charge of all merchandising operations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- D&W Food Centers Inc. here is eliminating 150 jobs in an effort to remain competitive. The staff cuts amount to about 10 percent of the regional grocer's workforce, and include positions at the executive level and corporate facilities, as well as in 20 retail locations in West Michigan that are owned by the Robert Woodrick family.

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said yesterday that it has made the following promotions: Trent E. Taylor has to e.v.p. and c.i.o., from s.v.p. and c.i.o.; Gregory D. Wasson to Walgreen Co. e.v.p. and president of Walgreens Health Services (WHS), the company's managed care division, from a corporate s.v.p. and president of WHS; and Kermit R. Crawford to Walgreen Co. v.p. and e.v.p. of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) services for WHS from v.p. of PBM services.

SETPEMBER 6, 2005 -- One week after Hurricane Katrina's fury was unleashed on the Gulf Coast region -- leaving thousands homeless, hungry, and worse -- retailers continue looking for ways to help. Several companies late last week were sending truckloads -- and even planeloads -- of product to local relief agencies and needy refugees, while many more are jumping in to collect customer donations for American Red Cross and other organizations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer will debut the first of nine Meijer stores to open in 2005 today in Holland and White Lake Townships, Mich., both of which will generate more than 1,000 new jobs for the retailer's home state.