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Acquisitions strengthen mid-level retail chains

In the past couple of weeks, several mid-level chains have announced their intention to jump higher within their level through acquisition. The moves by A&P, Whole Foods and California's Save Mart supermarket should make each player stronger in its own particular niches.

In the late 1990s and as the 21st century dawned, the larger national chains got bigger through consolidation, and it appeared as if the supermarket industry was heading toward a situation where the top four or five chains would control a dominant share in the marketplace.

NWA achieves new heights at 93rd annual convention

ASHEVILLE, NC -- It is said that records are made to be broken, and true to the old clich?, several records were set at the National Watermelon Association's 93rd annual convention, held Feb. 21-25, here, at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa.

"For the past two years we have set records around the board," said Bob Morrissey, the association's executive director. "We had over 440 people at our banquet this year and that is a record crowd. We had the largest attendance, auction, sponsorship and exhibitors in our 93-year history."

SPC conference and expo attracts record crowd

TAMPA, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council attracted a record attendance to its fourth annual retail and foodservice conference and expo, held here Feb. 22-24, as participants enjoyed the golf tournament, field tours, workshops, trade show and receptions that comprised the event.

Add the perfect Florida weather during all three days of what the council calls Southern Exposure 2007, and it is not surprising that SPC executives, exhibitors and attendees all gave it high marks.

Mushroom supplier cleared in BJ's recall

Two laboratories have confirmed that mushrooms recalled by BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. were not contaminated with E. coli, the retailer said Feb. 23.

On Feb 20, BJ's recalled mushrooms packaged under the "Wellsley Farms" brand that were purchased between Feb. 11 and Feb. 19. The retailer took the precautionary measure when preliminary test results showed the possible presence of trace amounts of E. coli from one lot code of the sliced mushrooms, said the warehouse retailer.

Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce acquire McCartney Produce

The assets of McCartney Produce Co. Inc. in Paris, TN, were acquired by an affiliated company of Indianapolis Fruit Co. Inc. and Piazza Produce Inc.

McCartney, originally a family business founded in 1947, distributes fresh produce and related items to both the retail and foodservice sectors in several states. The company will continue to operate in Paris under the McCartney Produce name. Jerry Bowden will continue as chief operating officer, and the management team and all other employees will remain in place.

Oppenheimer and Origin Organic ink long-term marketing agreement

Two British Columbia companies have joined forces to make top-quality greenhouse organics a North American mainstay.

Through an exclusive marketing agreement, the Vancouver-based Oppenheimer Group recently solidified a long-term partnership with Origin Organic Farms of Delta, a top organic greenhouse vegetable grower in North America. The agreement centers on efficiently supplying the market with a broad range of "OriginO" branded produce into the next decade.

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