NEWSWATCH 2008-08-25

TEEL PLANS ‘GOOD EATS’ CHAIN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Michael Teel, the grandson of the founder of Raley's Supermarkets here, is preparing to challenge Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market's local entry with his own group of gourmet grocery stores that will emphasize fresh prepared foods, reports said last week. According to the report in the Sacramento Bee newspaper, Teel plans to open the first unit of Good Eats — a combination bistro and market — this winter, with as many as seven additional locations planned. The stores will reportedly emphasize prepared foods to go, with an inventory slightly larger than a Trader Joe's, Teel told the newspaper. Teel could not be reached for comment.

WINN-DIXIE JOINS TOPCO CO-OP

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores here last week said it has become a member of Topco Associates for procurement of its corporate-brand products, effective immediately. The retailer said it would use the cooperative to purchase grocery, frozen, dairy, HBC, general merchandise and perishables. “Our corporate-brands program is one of the key initiatives in our business plan,” Dan Portnoy, Winn-Dixie's chief merchandising and marketing officer, said in a statement. “Topco's expertise in procurement, product development and quality assurance, plus the economies that are gained through consolidating our purchasing with other Topco members, will serve to greatly strengthen our private-label initiative.”

UNIONS IN ANTI-McCAIN CAMPAIGN

WASHINGTON — Railing against what it calls an “anti-worker agenda,” the Change to Win labor coalition here last week announced plans for a multifaceted campaign against Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. The group said it was organizing tours of 10 “battleground” states over the next seven weeks to stage demonstrations calling attention to McCain's record. It also announced a new interactive website at worsethanbush.org. Change to Win is a partnership of unions, including the United Food and Commercial Workers, supporting Sen. Barack Obama in his presidential bid.

OHIO KROGER WORKERS OK CONTRACT

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kroger workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1059 here last week ratified a new labor agreement, the retailer said. The agreement covers more than 11,000 workers in 87 stores in and around Columbus, and was reached well in advance of the current contract's expiration in November.

SAFEWAY CANADA INKS LABOR PACT

CALGARY, Alberta — Safeway Canada here said its workers approved a new, five-year labor contract last week that covers about 8,000 employees in British Columbia. According to United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518, Burnaby, British Columbia, the new pact calls for immediate wage increases of $1 per hour and a minimum increase of $3 per hour over the five-year contract. It also includes new language concerning the ability to transfer based on seniority, along with what it described as improvements in pension, insurance and vacation time. Safeway Canada said it continues to negotiate with UFCW Local 247 and a bakers' union on separate contracts.