Nonfoods

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats are asking for more than $700 million to hire hundreds of new inspectors and take other measures to protect farms and food from terrorist attack, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.

'You've got to push the envelope. The more you push, the more opportunities you'll find," says Jeff Noddle, president, CEO and COO of Supervalu. These days, Noddle, who took over the helm in June from long-time CEO Mike Wright, is pushing pretty hard, looking at opportunities outside Supervalu's traditional customer base —such as alternative formats, significant reductions in inventory, organic growth vs. acquisition, B2B initiatives, and a laundry list of other strategic issues.

BOULDER, Colo. - Wild Oats Markets Inc., a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today announced financial results for the third quarter and first nine months ended September 29, 2001.

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to buy Odwalla Inc., producer of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, dairy-free shakes and spring water, for $181 million, Odwalla said on Tuesday.

KOKIE, Ill. -Private label procurers Topco Associates Inc. and Shurfine International Inc. on Monday announced that their respective shareholder groups have voted in favor of a proposed merger of the Shurfine International operations into those of Topco Associates Inc. The transaction, which will be achieved through the formation of a new company, Topco Associates LLC, is effective Nov. 1, 2001.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced its five Dutch subsidiaries are teaming up to offer a new joint Internet-based home delivery service called "Albert".

Kellogg, Procter & Gamble and Ralston Purina Co. released quarterly earnings today.

Swiss food and beverages giant Nestle SA today expressed interest in taking full control of the Haagen-Dazs ice cream business by buying the 50 percent stake owned by its partner in the venture, Pillsbury Co., the Associated Press reported.