Nonfoods

AMSTERDAM--News accounts of talk that Royal Ahold executives had long been aware of accounting irregularities at the world's second-largest retailer caused its stock price to fall 10 percent in Amsterdam Monday, Reuters reports.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - Royal Ahold NV told federal regulators on Thursday that its accountant, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, no longer stands behind its audits for 2000 and 2001. The latest announcement raises questions about whether problems with the company's financial statements began earlier than had been acknowledged.

CHICAGO - Chicago-based Sara Lee Corp. will close more bakeries and cease making many of its regional breads so it can concentrate on its best-known brands, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.

NEW YORK - In gearing up for its late April bankruptcy emergence, Kmart's top brass say a detailed approach to marketing and operations and a well-defined best practices strategy are key to solvency and eventual profitability.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Consumers are continuing to scale back their trips to the grocery store, opting instead for supercenters, dollar stores, and warehouse club stores, according to the latest "Channel Blurring" study from ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU company.

ROME - People should get no more than 10 percent of their calories from sugar, eat more fruit and vegetables and exercise moderately to cut risks of chronic disease, two United Nations agencies said on Monday.

LONDON - Dutch food retailer Ahold defended itself on Sunday against criticism that it waited too long to inform shareholders of accounting irregularities.

The latest ACNielsen study on trade promotion practices shows both retailers and manufacturers increasingly unhappy with spending and results.