Nonfoods

AUSTIN, Texas -- After operating on a partial basis for the past few months, Whole Foods Market here cut the ribbon on a rebuilt, 50,000-square-foot store in Metairie. La. yesterday.

DUNCAN, S.C -- The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has awarded the Cryovac Food Packaging Division of Sealed Air Corporation, based here, a handful of its 2006 Top Packaging Awards.

COPPELL, Texas -- Minyard Food Stores, Inc. here expects to debut its new Hispanic-centric Carnival flagship store in mid-summer, s.v.p. of strategy and marketing Poul Heilmann told Progressive Grocer yesterday. The ground-up store, to be located in the Oaklawn section of southwest Dallas, will incorporate the many new ideas Minyards has implemented in four recent Carnival remodels.

BOULDER, Colo. -- Natural and organic foods chain Wild Oats Markets, Inc. here is gearing up to enter the Tampa, Fla. market with its latest prototype, which offers its signature perishables, an extensive organic and natural product selection, and energy-conserving equipment. The 37,000-square-foot store, located in Walters Crossing at 1548 N. Dale Mabry Highway (Dale Mabry at I-275), above a Target store, will open April 5.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A convenience store from Altoona, Pa.-based c-store innovator Sheetz will be included in a new six-acre retail development at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), according to The News & Observer. The project will reportedly be the airport authority's first venture into retail development outside the terminal complex.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Cash will be one of the greens available at the Raley's supermarket that will celebrate its grand opening later this month.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets here and Palo Alto, Calif.-based Bon Appétit Management Co., a foodservice company noted for its sustainable sourcing practices, said yesterday at the Boston Seafood Show that they have adopted new purchasing policies for farmed king salmon that meets strict health and environmental criteria. The policies were developed with New York-based Environmental Defense, an environmental advocacy organization.

PITTSBURGH -- In keeping with its plans to expand in central Ohio, Giant Eagle, based here, is opening a minimum of three stores in the region, according to a published report.