Nonfoods

SEATTLE -- Starbucks Coffee Co., here is adding to its lineup of ready-to-drink coffee products by introducing Starbucks Iced Coffee in the United States through the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture with Chicago-based PepsiCo. The beverage will be available at Starbucks stores in March, and regular and light varieties will arrive in grocery and convenience stores across the country in May.

NEW YORK -- What might seem like a baby step from the United Kingdom's leading retailer could have giant implications for U.S. food and convenience stores, industry observers said yesterday.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- In a bid to better compete with such operators as Whole Foods and Wild Oats, Safeway today marks the grand opening of its redesigned Lifestyle Store in Wild Oat's hometown of Boulder, Colo., rolling out a shopping concept that highlights thousands of organic and natural items, new expanded perishable departments, and such special features as a fresh sushi bar and an interactive culinary center where chefs will run cooking demonstrations and customers can buy cookbooks and kitchenware.

NEWARK, Del. --Through a sponsorship from Try-Foods International, Inc., up to 10 retailers will receive $1,000 towards their expenses to attend the 2006 PMA Retail Produce Solutions Conference (RPSC) to be held March 9 to March 11 in Houston.

CINCINNATI -- Local products are playing a key role in helping the Kroger Co., based here, court customers in its newly opened 65,000-square-foot store in the Brewery District near downtown Columbus, Ohio, according to local reports.

TORONTO -- A&P Canada said yesterday that it would convert most of its Super C stores in the province of Ontario to the Food Basics value format. Seven of the Super C stores will become Food Basics locations by the end of April 2006, while one store, in Cornwall, will convert to the Loeb banner, and another, in Pembroke, will close Feb. 11.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marsh Supermarkets here took additional major steps in its ongoing restructuring, with the latest finding the regional retailer removing some top executives who are also members of the Marsh family, and closing eight stores and a restaurant.

SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Hannaford Bros. Co. here has launched its third annual "Have a Heart for Hunger" campaign. The aim of the program, which runs from Feb. 5 until March 4, is to help provide hunger relief to organizations in the five states served by the Northeast regional food retailer.