Independents / Regional Grocers

U.S. Foodservice, the subsidiary at the root of so many of Ahold's problems, may now be part of the solution. Ahold said it will sell the Columbia, Md.-based company to a consortium led by private equity funds Clayton, Dubilier Rice and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $7.1 billion. The retailer will use proceeds to pay down more than $2.7 billion in debt, while returning another $4 billion to

byJon Springer, Executive Editor