BRIEFLY 1996-02-12

BC New York, LLC, Parsippany, N.J., an area developer of Boston Chicken, signed a definitive agreement to buy 14 Roy Rogers restaurants in the metropolitan New York market from Hardee's Food Systems. The company said it plans to convert the units into Boston Market stores by the end of this year. The company said the Roy Rogers sites are located primarily in northern New Jersey. The transaction is expected to close by March 1.

nt Merchandiser magazine. Jacober replaces Byron "Rex" Miller, who resigned as association president last year.

Kmart Corp., Troy, Mich., has named James P. Churilla vice president, real estate finance, a newly created post. The company also named Michael J. Viola vice president, treasurer. The appointments are effective Feb. 21. The retailer said Churilla, who is currently the firm's treasurer,

will be responsible for all real estate financial issues including financing new property acquisitions, financial management of existing properties, real estate accounting and real estate investment analysis. Most recently Viola was with Federal-Mogul Corp. where he was vice president, treasurer and controller, Kmart said.

Bruno's, Birmingham, Ala., is conducting a review of advertising agencies with the help of Advice and Advisors, a New York-based advertising consultancy. The chain is looking for "an appropriate marketing partner. . . to take the retailer into the 21st century," said a statement. The chain's account is currently held by Steiner/Bressler/Zimmerman, also of Birmingham.

McDonald's Corp. announced last week that it is discontinuing three of its low-fat menu items. The McLean Deluxe, the chef salad and side salad will no longer be available, according to spokesperson Malesia Webb-Dunn. "But we certainly still have light options available on the menu," Webb-Dunn added. Some of these items include the McGrill chicken sandwich, the fajita chicken salad and a garden salad. McDonald's made the decision as part of a general menu streamlining effort, based upon sales volume, she told SN.

Provigo, Montreal, said last week it will spend $18.25 million U.S. ($25 million Canadian) to convert three of its Maxi discount grocery stores to combination supermarkets and general merchandise outlets. The three stores, called Maxi & Co., will be expanded from 50,000 square feet to 80,000 square feet with the first scheduled to open this summer. The company expects to increase sales by about 25% from current levels at the Maxi stores. The new format stores will carry over 12,000 products. · ABC's Prime Time Live aired a program last week focusing on the possible use of steroids by the beef industry and how it might be affecting the nation's meat supply. The program's conclusion was that it may or may not have an effect. Correspondent Chris Wallace outlined instances of alleged use of steriods in the production of beef, pork, lamb and veal for human consumption. A spokesman for the National Meat and Livestock Board said on the program that the United States has the safest meat supply in the world and that there is no evidence of meat found to contain illegal substances. ABC is part of Capital Cities/ABC, the same company that owns Fairchild Publications, which publishes SN.

Meijer's Brian Breslin, vice president for public and consumer affairs, told the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities last week he backed a bill that would protect private companies who permit charitable and community organizations access to their property. Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., had allowed access to such organizations until a union insisted on the same access. The bill would permit private employers to ban union activity while allowing nonprofit fund raising.