Nonfoods

SAN FRANCISCO - The tuna industry disputes the state of California's suit against the producers of Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist for not warning shoppers about mercury content, saying that such an action could do more harm than good.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and STAMFORD, Conn. - ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU business and sister company of Progressive Grocer, and Daymon Worldwide, Inc., the global leader in sales and marketing of private label consumer products, today announced the formation of a strategic alliance under which ACNielsen will become Daymon's new primary provider of syndicated sales information and consumer insights.

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons, Inc. has elevated Duncan Mac Naughton, who most recently served as group v.p./grocery merchandising, to s.v.p. of merchandising. In his new post Mac Naughton will lead Albertsons merchandising efforts across food, general merchandise, health and beauty care, fuel, and alcohol.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Meijer hosted a two-hour public party yesterday at its Greenville, Mich. Store -- in close proximity to where the chain got its start -- to commemorate its 70th year in business.

PORTLAND, Ore. - To help retail pharmacies and supermarkets provide an interactive health and wellness resource in-store at a reference desk or department counter, Healthnotes Inc. (HNI) announced today the launch of the new EasyAnswers Touchscreen Counter Top kiosk.

PHILADELPHIA - The Marketing Task Force, based here, yesterday unveiled its 10 recommendations to attract more supermarkets to the City of Brotherly Love, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported.

HOMEWOOD, Ill. - Carl Buddig & Co., based here, one of the country's leading suppliers of private label, thin-sliced meats, has been named Supervalu's 2004 "Supplier of the Year." The Minneapolis-based supermarket retailer presents the award annually for outstanding performance.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The on-again, off-again sale of Kings Super Markets may be on again, as turmoil hits British owner Marks & Spencer, according to a report in the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper.