Trading Partners

The Roundy's/Supervalu deal brings to light the challenges and anxieties of being a retail account in the middle.

With an emphasis on good nutrition, innovative products, and savvy merchandising, retailers and manufacturers of natural/organic branded and private label RTE cereals are proving that health sells.

From HEB to Publix and beyond, the grocers most committed to Hispanics are learning not to get lost in the translation.

CHICAGO -- The impact of rising gas prices seems to be finally taking its toll on consumer restaurant spending. Roughly 18 percent of consumers polled by foodservice consultancy Technomic here said they have reduced their spending in quick-service restaurants because of higher fuel costs. Meanwhile 19 percent said they are cutting back spending at full-service restaurants.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Associated Food Stores, Inc. here has made the move to data synchronization, in a bid to clean up the data pool its shares with hundreds of independent retail accounts.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Putting action behind its statement earlier this year that organics and other healthy foods will play a bigger part in its stores, Wal-Mart Stores here is conducting a limited test market of Chicago-based Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s kefir product in up to 17 of its Chicago-land stores. The news, which came late Thursday, sent shares of Lifeway Foods soaring more than 20 percent early Friday.

NEW YORK -- Larry Johnston, c.e.o. of Boise-based Albertsons Inc. supermarket chain, was named one of the five "most outrageously overpaid CEOs" in an article Wednesday on MSN's Web site.

FARMINGTON, Conn. -- The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) and West Hartford-based Wittman Specialty Foods have teamed up to launch the Connecticut Food Trail, described as "the gateway to New England's finest specialty foods," at www.ctfoodtrail.com. The site is scheduled to go live in January.