Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

BOSTON - The organizers of the Super Floral Show here have grown the event¿s education program, which is designed to help supermarkets and other retailers grow their floral businesses.

WOODBURY, N.Y. - Weight Watchers International will reprise its Pick of the Season campaign in 2005, and is inviting produce suppliers to recommend participants.

ONTARIO, Calif. - Cardenas Markets here will build a broadband high-speed communications network to connect its nine locations and headquarters.

WASHINGTON - The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) yesterday appointed Monica Gonzalez the new director of scientific and regulatory policy. Gonzalez will manage GMA's public policy objectives for food safety, recalls, traceability, and other issues.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. ¿ Ingles Markets, Inc. here said yesterday it is the subject of an informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the accounting for a vendor contract it entered into in 2002.

WASHINGTON - On the heels of controversial statements about the safety of the food supply made by outgoing U.S. Secretary Of Health And Human Services Tommy Thompson last Friday, the federal government announced new rules aimed at helping trace the source of contaminated food, particularly in the event of a bioterrorist attack on the nation¿s food supply.

WASHINGTON - Audits by the Food Marketing Institute's Safe Quality Food (SQF) program will now provide consumers and retailers with an extra measure of protection through a new technology partnership with Steton, a global leader in food safety and quality assurance software.

TYLER, Texas - Brookshire Grocery Co. has deployed an automated system to manage the discount and rebate processes of its large suppliers, including Kraft Foods, General Mills, and Procter and Gamble.