Market Trends

Sara Lee Corporation announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of The Earthgrains Company, the number-two player in the fresh bread category. The combined bakery operations of Sara Lee and Earthgrains, which will now be named the Sara Lee Bakery Group, together generate approximately $3.4 billion in annual sales.

Mott's Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based Cadbury Schweppes plc, announced on Tuesday it had agreed to acquire the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands and related assets from Eagle Family Foods Inc. for $128 million.

UCCnet, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization that provides industry standards-based, global data synchronization, recently announced the formation of an advisory council to inform UCCnet regarding issues of enhanced functionality, product performance and usability within the organization's universal foundation for electronic commerce.

Nash Finch Company on Monday announced its completed acquisition of U Save Foods Inc. through a purchase of U Save's capital stock. Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., U Save Foods was a privately-held company with 14 supermarkets operating in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.

Whole Foods Market Inc. announced on Thursday it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Harry's Farmers Market Inc. for approximately $35 million in cash.

Vons, a division of Safeway Inc., today announced a new initiative in support of the Los Angeles Police Department's Stop the Violence campaign.

PepsiCo today announced several organization changes designed to help the company gain the full benefit of its recently completed merger with The Quaker Oats Company.

Leading Internet grocer Peapod Inc. and Giant Food Inc., a leading supermaket chain in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States and a wholly owned subsidiary of international food provider Royal Ahold, today announced the expansion of the Peapod by Giant online shopping and delivery service in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.