Certified Grocers of California and United Grocers said last week their shareholders will meet separately but simultaneously on Sept. 27 to finalize their merger, which will create a new company called Unified Western Grocers. The announcement followed last week's approval of the merger by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certified is based in Los Angeles, United in Portland, Ore.
vision of Muskegon, Mich.-based Quality Foods, a farm-supply company, have "chosen to ignore the law, and now they must pay the consequences." A Wal-Mart spokeswoman replied: "Michigan is one of a few states that still requires individual pricing on every item. We are working with store operations to ensure that Wal-Mart is in compliance with the Michigan laws and regulations."
Acme Markets of Virginia, North Tazewell, Va., said it will open its first store in North Carolina Sept. 28, when it completes the purchase of a Lowes Food Store in Spring Lake, N.C. Ed Kolodzieski, president of Acme, said the company is in discussions for three other Lowes stores in the area. "We anticipate opening additional stores in North Carolina before the end of the year," Kolodzieski told SN, whether or not Acme acquires them from Lowes. Acme operates 27 stores in Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina.
Kmart Corp., Troy, Mich., said last week it opened of 142 more refurbished Big Kmart stores, bringing the company's total to 1,670 since the rollout began in 1996. The company said another 139 store conversions are currently under way, and it will have converted more than 90% of its 2,151 by the end of the year.
