Nonfoods

PITTSBURGH -- Karen L. Alber has joined H.J. Heinz Company as v.p. and c.i.o. She comes to Heinz from Pepsico, after 19 years of experience in supply chain management, systems implementation, operations, process improvement, and change management.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Leveraging its expertise in small-box retailing, produce procurement, and private label marketing, retailer/distributor Supervalu here is bursting onto the growing retail natural and organic foods scene with Sunflower Market, a new value-priced retail concept. The first Sunflower Market is scheduled to open in Indianapolis in January 2006, the company said yesterday at its investor conference.

WATERLOO, Ontario -- Longo Brothers Fruit Markets, a 14-store Canadian independent based here, plans to improve delivery productivity and customer service by deploying a suite of services for its transportation, logistics, manufacturing, retail and distribution enterprises

STILLWATER, Minn. -- Cub Foods this Halloween will host kids and their families in stores at a Cub4Kids Trick or Treat event, which will take place from 5 p.m. through 7 p.m. at all 52 Cub Food units.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Spurred by concerns about the potential effect of Medicaid budget cuts on health care, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) said yesterday that they had created the Coalition for Meaningful Medicaid Reform (CMMR). A series of ads that begins running today reflects the group's desire for "meaningful changes to Medicaid."

LANDOVER, Md. -- Giant Food, LLC and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna HealthCare have agreed to co-brand Cigna's Cignature Rx Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan and collaborate on co-sponsored educational communications for distribution in Giant pharmacies.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- It is déjà vu all over again? Food Lion, the one-time king of no-frills, small-box grocery discounting in the South, is charging itself with "redefining the discount grocery model" via the test of a new price-conscious, product-heavy grocery concept called Bottom Dollar. The regional chain, based here, said on Friday it will open the third of the new pilot Bottom Dollar stores on Oct. 19 in Asheboro, N.C.

WASHINGTON -- Although the month of September was hit by two hurricanes and drastic gas price hikes, retail sales continued to rise, the National Retail Federation (NRF) here said on Friday. Unadjusted retail sales for September (excluding automobile, gas station, and restaurant volume) rose a vigorous 7.0 percent over last year, and increased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from August.