Deli / Prepared Foods

MODESTO, Calif. -- The Almond Board of California here has named the winners of its 4th Annual Almond Innovations Contest, which drew students from some of the most prestigious food science and culinology programs in the United States.

Wawa, Pa. -- Convenience store pioneer Wawa, Inc. based here, selected Merrychef USA to be its supplier of choice for accelerated cooking ovens.

LANDOVER, Md. -- After a five-month overhaul, Giant Food, LLC here reopened a new replacement store in the Van Ness shopping center in Washington, D.C. late last week. The retailer enlarged the store from 18,345 square feet to 33,576 square feet, expanding the produce, meat, seafood, flower, bakery, and deli departments.

MONROVIA, Calif. -- The checkout line snaked around most of the perimeter, and scores of curious and enthusiastic shoppers swarmed the aisles last Friday, the opening day of Trader Joe's first New York City store.

BOULDER, Colo. -- Natural and organic foods chain Wild Oats Markets, Inc. here is gearing up to enter the Tampa, Fla. market with its latest prototype, which offers its signature perishables, an extensive organic and natural product selection, and energy-conserving equipment. The 37,000-square-foot store, located in Walters Crossing at 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway (Dale Mabry at I-275), above a Target store, will open April 5.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets here and Palo Alto, Calif.-based Bon Appétit Management Co., a foodservice company noted for its sustainable sourcing practices, said yesterday at the Boston Seafood Show that they have adopted new purchasing policies for farmed king salmon that meets strict health and environmental criteria. The policies were developed with New York-based Environmental Defense, an environmental advocacy organization.

Pasta's rebound from its Atkins-era slump makes the category just right for full-meal merchandising.

Louisiana's Rouses Supermarkets leverages local expertise and a blend of old and new in its latest store.