Research & Analysis

WASHINGTON -- The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) recently named Big Y Foods, Springfield, Mass., the winner of the first-ever Awards of Excellence competition, in recognition of the company's successful practices and accomplishments in human resources and training and development fields of the food retail industry.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fleming Companies c.e.o.Mark Hansen told analysts yesterday that there are a number of suitors interested in purchasing its Rainbow Foods chain, which operates 44 supermarkets in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A pharmacists' walkout that looked to be averted last month by Raley's Supermarkets could still happen as the pharmacists' union has failed to ratify a new contract, according to a report in today's Sacramento Bee.

HARRISBURG, Pa -- Gubernatorial candidate and former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell has received strong opposition to his proposal to move state-controlled liquor retail operations into supermarkets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Grocery Manufacturers of America today endorsed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's national organic program as a way to provide consumers with accurate labeling information about organic foods and ingredients.

PHILADELPHIA, -- Acme Markets, Inc., a unit of Albertsons, has purchased a prominent portion of the former Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and plans to erect a 50,000 sq. ft. combo store on the South Philly site. Food-drug combo stores, such as its Albertsons Sav-On and Jewel-Osco formats, form the Boise, Idaho-based chain's key strategy for growth.

LANSING, Mich.-- Leaders of two Michigan retailer groups called a white paper issued by Attorney General Jennifer Granholm a "slap in the face to the retail industry."

HAMPTON ROADS, Va.--Supervalu's Farm Fresh supermarkets unit in Virginia has become the latest chain to offer irradiated ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s electron beam technology, SureBeam said.