FOOD LION, Salisbury, N.C., last week filed a motion asking a federal judge for more time to decide whether to accept reduced punitive damages from ABC or go back to court. As reported in SN, Judge N. Carlton Tilley reduced the damages awarded by a jury from $5.5 million to $315,000, in its lawsuit against ABC over a story. He then gave the supermarket chain two weeks either to take the reduced amount or to go to retrial on the punitive damages phase of the case. The chain also wants the court to clarify what effect Food Lion's decision would have on its right to appeal.
s with revenues of $1.4 billion, including Vlasic pickles and Swanson frozen dinners. "Spinning off these businesses allows us to focus on our most profitable businesses with the highest growth potential," said chief executive officer Dale F. Morrison.
THE EASTERN DIVISION OF SAFEWAY, Lanham, Md., has set aside space for members of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington at 19 stores in the District of Columbia as community workstations, where officers can do paperwork, make phone calls and meet with members of the community. According to the company, the program -- which also includes McDonald's and 7-Eleven -- is designed to make the city a safer place by providing additional resources for the police, helping officers do their jobs more efficiently and making them more accessible to the citizens of Washington.
THE FRENCH STOCK EXCHANGE has approved Caen-based Promodes' hostile takeover bid for rival supermarket chain Casino, Saint Etiene, and its largest shareholder, the holding company Rallye. Casino has rejected the bid.
WILD OATS MARKETS, Boulder, Colo., last week announced five new sites to open in 1998: Denver and Fort Collins, Colo.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Princeton, N.J. Previously, the company announced four other sites, also to open in 1998: Tempe, Ariz.; Miami, Fla.; Chicago; and Denver.
WHOLE FOODS MARKET'S previously announced acquisition of Amrion, a Boulder, Colo.-based manufacturer of nutraceuticals and nutritional supplements, was completed last week. The deal, a stock swap, was worth approximately $146 million. Whole Foods, Austin, Texas, operates 75 stores in 17 states.
HAIN FOOD GROUP, Uniondale, N.Y., last week signed a letter of intent to acquire Westbrae Natural, Carson, Calif., for $23.5 million. Hain said the acquisition, which is expected to close by late next month, will push the company's annual revenues above $100 million. Westbrae's president, Andrew Jacobson, will hold a senior management role in Hain and Westbrae's natural-food business. Westbrae markets natural and organic foods. Hain Food Group is a specialty food company.
