NEWS WATCH 1997-10-20

ALBERTSON'S, Boise, Idaho, has been hit with another class-action lawsuit -- this time in Las Vegas -- alleging off-the-clock work. The charges are similar to those contained in lawsuits filed in the past year in California, Florida, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico. Albertson's has consistently denied that it condones off-the-clock work.

om various private companies owned by Sloan's chairman John Catsimatidis. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week, Sloan's has lined up $25 million in financing from a group of banks to cover the acquisition, capital improvements and to provide working capital.

HENRY LEE CO., a food-service unit of Smart & Final, Vernon, Calif., last week acquired two Florida-based meat-processing companies, which will add approximately $50 million to annual sales.

AMERICAN STORES CO., Salt Lake City, last week said BankAmerica, San Francisco, will withdraw its 75 branches and 180 automated teller machines from American Stores' Jewel/Osco supermarkets in the Chicago area. A replacement bank is expected to be in place by the first half of 1998.

SALES AT GROCERY STORES rose 1.6% in September after holding firm during August, according to figures released last week by the Commerce Department. In the larger food-store category, sales rose 1.4% over August and 2.6% over last year. Grocery-store sales were up 2.1% from last year.