Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

WASHINGTON -- New Year's resolution for the FDA: Require food manufacturers to warn consumers, in plain English and on the label, about the presence of allergens in their products.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Packaged foods giant ConAgra Foods Inc. said yesterday it will combine its foodservice segment with its food ingredients business, to form one new commercial foods group. The goal is to improve accountability and reduce complexity, the company said.

BETHPAGE, N.Y -- King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc., based here, has spawned a foodservice arm, The Kullenary, a full-service café/deli offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner to eat in or take out.

CINNCINNATTI -- In a move that will likely put its meat suppliers on notice, The Kroger Co. here selected OATSystems to provide middleware software for the pilot test of an RFID-based solution to track case-ready meats through its supply chain.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Let the 2006 mergers begin. Spartan Stores, Inc. here said it plans to acquire D&W Food Centers, Inc., also based here, in a deal that could add $200 million a year to Spartan's sales revenue.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- AG Supermarkets, Inc., the retail subsidiary of Associated Grocers of New England here, said Friday it has opened a new upscale Harvest Market format in Hollis, N.H.

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) here applauded the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's passage yesterday of the "National Uniformity for Food Act" (H.R. 4167), a piece of legislation designed to provide consumers with accurate, consistent information about food safety.

LOS ANGELES AND ST. LOUIS -- Smart & Final and Schnucks Markets will be the first grocery customers to add EarthShell Packaging plates and bowls by its United States-based licensee, ReNewable Products, Inc. (RPI).