Trading Partners

WASHINGTON, DC - Food Marketing Institute President and CEO Tim Hammonds on Monday issued a letter to FMI members asking them to oppose the new mandatory country-of-origin labeling law, which FMI believes would place an undue burden on supermarkets.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In five years, Wal-Mart could be twice as big as it is today if it increases its market share in major categories such as food and apparel and newer areas such as gasoline, predicts global consulting and market research firm Retail Forward.

BOSTON - In a move that reflects consumers' increasing interest in natural foods, a New York investment firm has acquired a majority interest in Annie's Homegrown Inc., the Wakefield, Mass.-based manufacturer of all-natural and organic pasta products.

VEVEY, Switzerland - Nestle today said it will acquire the assets of Chef America Inc., the leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of frozen hand-held food products, for $2.6 billion in cash.

SAN CARLOS, Calif. - DemandTec Inc., provider of Demand Based Management (DBM) software, announced that D&W Foods is implementing DemandTec 3 in 26 stores and 70 percent of its categories this year.

NEW YORK - No. 1 drug chain Walgreen Co. on Thursday became the latest retailer to say it may have to pull out of a state Medicaid program because of cutbacks in reimbursements, Reuters reports.

Warm winters have been putting a chill on the cough/cold category. Effective coping strategies may depend on accurate weather forecasts.

So you've done a few special promotions and added some Hispanic products to your store. Now's the time to create an ethnic merchandising strategy for 365 days a year.