Nonfoods

NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. here today posted net income of $15.4 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter ended April 29, a decline of 17 percent from the year-ago period, when the company reported net income of $18.6 million, or 27 cents per diluted share. In a conference call yesterday the company's acting c.f.o., Frank Forward, cited such factors as continued soft traffic and general merchandise trends and rapidly rising gas prices for the downturn.

EDMONTON, Alta. -- Since natural and organic retailer Planet Organic Health Corp. here formed the Eco Karma Committee, an employee-based initiative dedicated to improving the environment and corporate citizenship, it's experienced a lot of changes for the better.

CHICAGO -- If current trends continue, 50 percent of kids in the United States will be overweight by 2010, but healthier products aimed at children may just turn this around, according to a new report by market research firm Information Resources, Inc., based here.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Tom Berg has been promoted to v.p. of business development at Spartan Stores here. Since coming to Spartan in May 1980, Berg, most recently director of new business development has held various positions in the general merchandise, corporate brands, and marketing departments.

Can the produce department draw kids like the cereal and cookie aisles do?

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif. -- Brant Rigby has joined Earthbound Farm, the nation's leading producer of organic produce and specialty salads, as v.p. of human resources.

CHICAGO -- A panel of culinary chefs from the Illinois Institute of Art here selected the winning recipes from among eight finalists vying for top honors in IGA's Hometown Holidays Recipe Contest.

Varieties and packaging options keep the tea category steeped in sales.