Nonfoods

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co., known for its efforts in merchandising organics, on Monday announced the official national launch of Naturally Preferred, its own brand of premium-quality natural and organic products now available to all of the company's nearly 2,500 stores.

SINGAPORE - A SARS outbreak caused the closing of Singapore's largest wholesale vegetable market this week, and a quarantine of all of its 2,400 workers.

CHICAGO & QUINCY, Mass. - Leading Internet grocer Peapod Inc. and New England grocer Stop & Shop today announced the expansion of their online service to the Hartford, Conn., metropolitan area.

NEW YORK - Grocery distributor Fleming Cos. Inc. said on Tuesday that the bankruptcy court has conditionally approved $150 million in financing the company needs to reorganize.

DALLAS - 7-Eleven, Inc., the nation's largest c-store chain, today reported that its first quarter core earnings, which exclude non-operating items, grew to $4.6 million or $0.04 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, versus $2.4 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2002.

LONDON - Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever is said to be looking to sell several popular toothpaste brands and other businesses worth a total of $300 million to $400 million, industry sources said on Monday.

CHICAGO - The bankruptcy of grocery distributor Fleming Cos. Inc. is having a ripple effect on its food suppliers as companies ranging from Kraft Foods Inc. to Hershey Foods feel the pinch, according to a recent report by Reuters.

MONTREAL - More than 686 exhibitors from 37 countries presented their products to 13,345 professionals in the food industry at SIAL Montreal 2003, the second North American edition of the International Food, Beverage, Wine and Spirits Exhibition held April 2-4.