Trading Partners

BOULDER, Colo. -- Natural and organic foods retailer Wild Oats Markets last week said it has contracted with Harvest Meat Company and Sherwood Food Distributors to manage its nationwide naturalorganic protein distribution.

CARLISLE, Pa. and CARTERET, N.J. -- In two separate efforts, Giant-Carlisle and Pathmark Stores are driving charitable contributions to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, the alliance of premier hospitals for children.

CHELMSFORD, Mass. -- Workforce management software vendor Kronos Inc. yesterday said it agreed to acquire Portland, Ore.-based Unicru, Inc., a provider of hiring management solutions for $150 million in cash.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Average manufacturer payments for unsaleables dipped slightly to 1.05 percent of sales from 1.13 percent between 2004 and 2005, according to The 2006 Unsaleables Benchmark Report, released yesterday at the Joint Unsaleables Conference here by the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Food Marketing Institute.

MONTVALE, N.J. --The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. here will once again sponsor the annual Food Emporium Golf Classic to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). On July 17 more than 400 golfers from the vendor community will tee off in a charity golf tournament at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Far Hills, N.J.

LOS ANGELES -- Non-membership warehouse retailer Smart & Final is already seeing improved efficiency and visibility in its supply chain via a new system installed just this past March, according to Tony Kleiner, dir. of buying and supply chain projects, who discussed the system during a Web conference held yesterday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Commercial poultry flocks in the United States and the food products made from them are being carefully protected from avian influenza, said a group of food trade organizations on a revamped industry-sponsored Web site.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Commercial poultry flocks in the United States and the food products made from them are being carefully protected from avian influenza, said a group of food trade organizations on a revamped industry-sponsored Web site.