NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-01-17 (2)

Vons Inner-City Unit Is Opened

s., Arcadia, Calif., opened an inner-city store here last week as part of its $100 million commitment to build stores in understored urban areas.

The 45,000-square-foot conventional supermarket is the first of a projected 10 to 12 units scheduled to open in similar urban locations over the next five years. Vons launched the development program in late 1991 and accelerated its plans after the April 1992 riots in the area.

The store will employ area residents who were trained for entry-level apprentice positions through the Jobs and Neighbors Initiative, a community-based job and hiring program developed by Vons in conjunction with private agencies.

The chain expects to open an 80,000-square-foot, super-combination store in Inglewood, Calif., later this year.

'93 Retail Food Prices Up 2.4%

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Supermarket food price increases in 1993 more than tripled against 1992, rising at an annualized rate of 2.4% compared with 0.7% for the year before, the U.S. Department of Labor reported last week.

Despite the increase, supermarket prices are still depressed due to continued lackluster consumer demand, which should continue this year, said Ralph Parlett, a food economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Agriculture Department forecasts that supermarket prices in 1994 will increase 2% to 4%.

Wal-Mart, Cifra Strengthen Tie

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Citing strong sales, Wal-Mart Stores here and Cifra, Mexico's largest retailer, have eliminated a clause that would have allowed either company to withdraw from their retail partnership south of the border within three years.

"This will strengthen our partnership and will create more expansion opportunities," said Dan Shinkle, spokesman for Wal-Mart, which launched its joint venture with Cifra in 1991. Wal-Mart also announced that its partnership will expand to include Cifra's apparel store division, called Suburbia, and its restaurant division, called VIPS. Wal-Mart and Cifra now jointly operate seven Club Aurrera/Sam's Clubs; four Bodega Aurrera stores, which are lower-price discounters; two Almacenese Aurrera general merchandise stores; one Superamas supermarket, and two Wal-Mart Supercenters.

Court Orders Leedmark Auction

GLEN BURNIE, Md. -- Leedmark, the French-owned hypermarket that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late last year, has been ordered by the Bankruptcy Court to auction off its equipment.

The public auction is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Jan. 20 at the hypermarket here. A general inspection of the auction items will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the day preceding the auction and again on auction day beginning at 9 a.m.