Research & Analysis

MANILA - The Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), a joint venture between beer giant San Miguel Corp. and The Coca-Cola Co., said today it was eyeing deals with Swiss food firm Nestle S.A. and Walt Disney to expand its non-carbonated drinks line, Reuters reports.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. today reported earnings of $0.32 per diluted share, excluding costs related to a merger and one-time expenses, for the third quarter endedNov. 10, 2001. These results represent an increase of 14.3% over the third quarter of 2000, on the same basis.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Penn Traffic Company today announced earnings for the third quarter (the 13-week period ended Nov. 3, 2001). Adjusted EBITDA was $24.5 million, an increase of 13.0 percent over the prior year's adjusted $21.7 million level.

CHICAGO and QUINCY, Mass. - Online grocer Peapod Inc., and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced on Monday that they have entered into an assurance with the Massachusetts Attorney General and have agreed to compensate certain Boston-area customers who shopped with Peapod during an eight-month period in 1999, when customer communications may have unintentionally caused confusion regarding Peapod's local pricing.

NEW YORK - Dutch supermarkets group Koninklijke Ahold NV was given approval from the Federal Trade Commission on Friday to buy Bruno's Supermarkets Inc., but the company was told it must close two of its own regional groceries stores in two Georgia towns, Reuters reports.

NEW YORK - U.S. retailers reported the weakest sales growth for November since the recession of 1990, Reuters reports.

STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA and TORONTO, ONTARIO - Sobeys Inc., Canada's second largest retail grocer and distributor, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its SERCA foodservice operations to SYSCO Corporation, the largest foodservice marketing and distribution company in North America.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertson's Inc., the No. 2 U.S. supermarket chain, today reported sales of $9.4 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 1, 2001, a 4.1 percent increase vs. the prior year.