B-TO-B Exchange Shuts Down
Exchange here, a multi-category, business-to-business Web site, has shut down and is ceasing operations, according to the National Fisheries Institute, the Arlington, Va.-based organization that had a service agreement with GFE. The Internet-based company, which signed on with NFI last July, was linking NFI supplier-members with customers until earlier this month. NFI officials said they were not sure what would happen to GFE's assets, though they noted the entire staff had been terminated. GFE officials were not available for comment.
FDA Issues Warning on Herbs
WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration here last week issued warning letters to Hansen Beverage Co., U.S. Mills and Fresh Samantha -- a unit of Odwalla -- regarding their use of gingko biloba, Siberian Ginseng and echinacea in some products. These ingredients have not been approved for consumption in food, and could be deemed illegal, according to the agency. The FDA is expected to send letters to other manufacturers using unapproved herbal ingredients next week.
Fleming Centralizes Procurement
DALLAS -- Fleming here said last week it has realigned its corporate retail buying, centralizing procurement for all its price impact stores. Sales and marketing operations have been moved to the customer support center to coordinate with Fleming's corporate centralized procurement system. "This action brings together Fleming's remaining stores into a single, focused price impact retail group," said Tom Dahlen, executive vice president and president, retail and corporate marketing.
Kmart Adds Groceries in Alaska
TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Corp. here said last week it will add full grocery selection of approximately 40,000 items to four of its five Alaska stores by mid-October. Two units in Anchorage and the Juneau and Fairbanks stores will be remodeled to accommodate the change, said spokeswoman Julie Fracker. The stores, averaging 140,000 square feet, are much larger than typical Big Kmarts, according to Fracker. As a result, adding groceries without cutting other departments is not expected to be a problem, she said.
Rosauers Acquires Two Stores
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Rosauers Supermarkets here said it has agreed to acquire two stores from Excell Foods, Deer Park, Wash., for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close on July 2. Rosauers said it will continue to operate the stores under the Excell Foods name while it evaluates the operations and facilities. The addition of the two stores -- located in Deer Park, approximately 30 miles north of here, and Colfax, Wash., about 60 miles north -- brings the total number of corporate stores to 20.
