Nonfoods

MAULDIN, S.C. -- Bi-Lo Supermarkets here said it collected a record 100,672 bags of food for food banks and food pantries in its annual food drive, Holiday Hope.

NATICK, Mass. -- Due in major part to strongly performing food categories, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Friday posted a December a sales increase of 6.2 percent, to $1.032 billion, from $971.8 million in the year-ago period.

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Chinese New Year is a celebration rich in history and tradition. For produce managers, Frieda's Inc. based here is reminding retailers that it's also an opportunity to build sales as the 15-day celebration is filled with family feasts and banquets.

MALVERN, Pa. -- Sterilox Food Safety based here, a division of U.K.-based PuriCore, has added another major food retail to its client roster. Due to confidentiality agreements, Sterilox was unable to identify the retailer by name. But Geoff Koontz, company spokesman, told Progressive Grocer that the new retail account is among the top five national supermarket chains with operations throughout North America.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. here said it is making its private label foods more heart-healthy by removing trans fats from its entire Archer Farms food line, which includes more than 2,000 items sold exclusively at Target's stores.

NATICK, Mass. -- Due in major part to strongly performing food categories, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Friday posted a December a sales increase of 6.2 percent, to $1.032 billion, from $971.8 million in the year-ago period.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart division Sam's Club is kicking off the playoffs by helping football fans meet their food and party needs with its "Big Game Playbook."

NEW YORK -- The plastic bag recycling bill passed this week by the New York City Council is being seen by many grocers in town as an inevitability for the city and several of them told Progressive Grocer yesterday that they have already implemented bag recycling programs in advance of the legislation.