Market Trends

PepsiCo said today it has completed its merger with The Quaker Oats Company, creating a $25 billion food and beverage company sharply focused on the rapidly growing consumer demand for convenience.

Fenway Partners, a private investment firm, announced today that The H. J. Heinz Company has purchased Delimex, a rapidly growing producer and distributor of branded, high-quality frozen Mexican foods. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

While some retailers have yet to embrace 3-D CAD technology, others are quickly becoming dependent on its ability to review colors, materials, fixtures, lighting programs, and even merchandising plans.

SYSCO Corporation, the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in North America, today announced diluted earnings per share of $0.88 on sales of $21.8 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, marking the 25th year of uninterrupted sales and earnings increases.

William F. Christ, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Hershey Foods Corporation, today announced that Hershey do Brasil, Hershey Foods' Brazilian subsidiary, has acquired the chocolate and confectionery business of Visagis.

Fleming Companies Inc. today reported a 59.7 percent increase in second quarter 2001 net earnings to $22.4 million, or $0.46 per share, after adjustments to exclude strategic plan charges and one-time items, compared to$14.0 million, or $0.35 per share, in the second quarter of 2000. Second quarter adjusted operating earnings of $66.1 million increased 20.5 percent from $54.9 million in the prior year.

Unilever announced today that the sale of the Bestfoods Baking Company to George Weston Limited for $1.765 billion in cash has been completed.

VoiceFlash Networks Inc. announced today that the company has signed a memorandum of understanding with VeriFone Inc., to explore the viability of cooperating in the development of retail mobile commerce products.