Research & Analysis

WASHINGTON - The Food Marketing Institute today urged the Federal Trade Commission to reevaluate its divestiture policies, especially those that limit the ability of independents and small family companies to buy divested stores.

BOSTON and LONDON - CPG manufacturers and grocery retailers in Britain are shifting their focus from CPFR and public exchanges to event management, private exchanges, and in-store logistics, according to a study by Insight Research, the London-based market research firm.

PITTSBURGH - Specialty food retailer Trader Joe's is reportedly eyeing the Pittsburgh market as it continues its growth plans on the East Coast, the Pittsburgh Business Times reports.

VEVEY, Switzerland - Nestle SA announced today it is merging its U.S. ice cream business into Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. in exchange for $2.4 billion in stock, The Associated Press reports.

BOULDER, Colo. - Natural and organic foods retailer Wild Oats Markets Inc. announced it has signed a distribution contract with Tree of Life Inc., a global natural products distributor, as its primary national distribution partner for organic, natural and specialty food products.

SYDNEY - Australia-based Foodland Associated Ltd. said today it has completed its acquisition of Woolworths New Zealand.

LONDON - The UK's Tesco said its sales rose by 11 percent in the three months to mid-May, with strong growth in the UK and abroad, the BBC reports.

LONDON - UK retailer Tesco has introduced life assurance policies in 10 of its stores in Ireland as it expands in the personal finance market, the Irish Independent reports.