Nonfoods

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Regional grocery and general merchandise retailer Meijer will be giving away thousands of diabetes education kits this weekend, as the company kicks off a month-long focus on the chronic disease that affects at least 17 million Americans.

INDIANAPOLIS - Marsh Supermarkets has launched a special telephone service through which consumers can order party and deli trays, fruit baskets, bakery goods, floral arrangements, and gift cards for the holidays and pick up the items at any Marsh location.

THIBODAUX, La. - Rouses Markets, Louisiana's largest independent grocer, has announced plans to build a second store in St. Tammany Parish. The 62,000-square-foot upscale store, a newer concept known as the "Epicurean Market," will feature a full-service butcher shop, seafood market, deli, cafe, floral shop, and one of the largest supermarket selections of wines in the state.

At the cutting edge of private label, meat and produce are where a grocer can make or break its name.

Packaged luncheon meats are responding to changing tastes and lifestyles -- and the challenge of the service deli.

Corporate branding strategies are growing more sophisticated, stratified, and effective than ever as retailers seek to grow profits and stand out.

QUINCY, Mass. - Stop & Shop, an Ahold banner, hopes to teach kids a thing or two about healthy eating through store tours for children in grades K-3 during the 2004-2005 school year.

DENVER - In the increasingly contentious contract talks between supermarket employees and major Colorado grocers Safeway, Albertsons, and King Soopers, corporate negotiators for the three retailers have rejected the United Food and Commercial Workers union's compromise offer to settle the dispute.