COMMITTEE APPROVES VOLUNTARY COOL LEGISLATION
ttee last week voted to approve H.R. 4576, a bill that would repeal the country-of-origin labeling program and replace it with a voluntary system. The bill was introduced by committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and the committee's ranking Democrat, Charles W. Stenholm, D-Texas. A vote by the full House is not expected until the fall. The bill, the Food Promotion Act of 2004, differs from the mandatory legislation approved last year by permitting state, regional and brand labeling programs, and reducing third-party audits and paper records.
UFCW LOCAL LAUNCHES STRIKE AGAINST ADAMS STORES
WESTPORT, Conn. -- United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 371 here launched a strike against the three outlets of Adams Super Food Stores last week. Brian A. Petronella, president of the local, told SN many of the three stores' 250 employees were walking off the job. However, Joseph M. Kelley, executive vice president of Adams, which is based in Cheshire, Conn., and which operates 13 stores, said only a small number of employees at the three unionized stores were walking off the job. The strike capped several weeks of bargaining, the last few involving a federal mediator, to negotiate a new contract to replace one that expired on July 12. The two sides were in the middle of a session last Wednesday morning when Petronella informed Kelley he was calling a strike.
WAL-MART PREPARES TO OPEN 'RURAL 98' SUPERCENTERS
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here said it will unveil a new, smaller supercenter format -- dubbed Rural 98 -- in New Richmond, Wis., about 40 miles northeast of Minneapolis, next spring. Industry sources said the company is targeting a second Rural 98 supercenter for Medford, Wis., in the north-central part of the state. The Rural 98 format will encompass approximately 98,000 square feet and will reportedly be similar to the 99,000-square-foot Urban 99 format that Wal-Mart developed for metropolitan areas and introduced earlier this year in Tampa, Fla., but with a different product mix.
FOOD-ALLERGEN LABELING BILL HEADS TO WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON -- A bill requiring food manufacturers to simply and clearly label allergy-causing ingredients passed the House of Representatives and is expected to be signed by President Bush. The bill, approved earlier by the Senate and widely supported by the food industry, mandates that manufacturers use plain English words like "milk" or "wheat" rather than less familiar terms like "casein" or "semolina" to identify the most common food allergens.
ALBERTSONS PLANS TO SHUTTER CALIF. WAREHOUSE
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. -- Albertsons, Boise, Idaho, last week said it would close its distribution facility here and consolidate its operations among facilities in Vacaville and Roseville, Calif., each around 60 miles north. About 400 workers would be affected, including 250 union Teamster warehouse workers and drivers, who under terms of their contract may take jobs at the other facilities or select severance packages, said Dominic Chiovare, business agent for Teamsters Local 70, Oakland, Calif. According to Chiovare, Albertsons plans to move San Leandro's frozen, deli, meat and produce departments to Roseville and its dry grocery to Vacaville, though Quyen Ha, an Albertsons spokeswoman, would not confirm those claims. Ha told SN the move will improve efficiency.
