KROGER CO., Cincinnati, said it plans to purchase perishable goods through a new partnership of GlobalNetXchange, Belmont, Calif., a global business-to-business on-line marketplace for retailers, and TradingProduce.com, Livermore, Calif., a B2B Internet site for the food and agriculture industries. Kroger is an equity partner in GNX.
from the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 371 earlier this year, making it the first Wild Oats store to organize. The union charged that Wild Oats attempted to discourage and harass employees engaged in union activities, including promises from top company officials of increased benefits if they refrained, Brian Petronella, Local 371 president, told SN. The union also said that Wild Oats owes around $60,000 to $80,000 in profit-sharing checks it discontinued following the union vote in April. Wild Oats sold the store in August.
JAY WALKER, the embattled founder and vice chairman of Priceline.com, has canceled his appearance at the Western Food Industry Exposition convention that began in Las Vegas on Sunday. Walker was to have been keynote speaker at an opening general session today, but is apparently canceling some of his speaking engagements in the wake of the collapse of Priceline's grocery and gasoline services.
In his stead, the convention presentation of Peter J. Gertler, principal, Deloitte Consulting, will be extended. Gertler is also to moderate a panel which includes a number of industry figures.
