COMPETITORS MAKE DELI GAINS

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Drug stores and mass merchandisers are taking a bigger bite out of deli sales from supermarkets, according to the Fourth Annual ACNielsen Consumer and Market Trends Report. The drug channel's $10.9 million in deli item sales for the 52 weeks ending April 15, 2000 was 68% higher than the previous year, and the mass merchandise channel boosted its sales of deli products by 142%. While both channels' overall share of sales of these items is still relatively small compared to supermarkets, their gains are noteworthy, said officials. The $4.7 billion category grew 13.4% overall during the past year, with grocery stores picking up the lion's share -- 99.4% -- of sales.