Trading Partners

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. here said yesterday it has become the first nationwide U.S. grocery chain to require suppliers of its private label and other food products such as produce, meat, fish, poultry, and ready-to-eat foods to have their factories certified against one of the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards.

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the National Fisheries Institute here were distinctly underwhelmed by President Bush's 2009 FDA food safety budget proposal. The problem: A bigger investment is needed in FDA's food-related programs to permit the agency to carry out what GMA calls its "critical food safety mission."

The ascent of noncarbonated offerings continues to transform the soft drink aisle.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- First-quarter sales at Harris Teeter here rose 12.6 percent to $896.6 million, thanks to new store activity, partially offset by store closings and divestitures, and a comparable store sales increase of 4.40 percent, the grocer's parent company Ruddick Corp. said yesterday.

The ascent of noncarbonated beverages continues to transform the soft drink aisle.

New premium branded pork helps Forth's Foods freshen its reputation as a meat specialist.

New premium branded pork helps Forth's Foods freshen its reputation as a meat specialist.

The ascent of noncarbonated offerings continues to transform the soft drink aisle.