NEWS WATCH 1996-07-22

Dierbergs Markets, Chesterfield, Mo., was the target of an extortion attempt that led authorities through two of the chain's stores and homes of top executives. The incident, which lasted more than 10 hours from July 10 to 11, began when Dierbergs got a call from a man demanding money or else he would blow up two stores in West St. Louis County and the executives' homes, said police, who would not disclose names. At each location, police found a package containing a letter directing them to the next location. No bombs were found. The trail ended, police said, when they found the body of Alexander Bloj, 47, and notes on the plot in his car, where he had shot himself.

Minneapolis, for groceries it ordered in May and June. Gooding's had refused to pay the bill because it claimed it received bad advice from Supervalu on a store it opened in 1993 in DeLand, Fla., which was closed in November. Gooding's executives said the store failed due to bad research by Supervalu, which they claim overestimated its potential volume by more than 50%. Supervalu, which maintains that its advice was sound, had sued Gooding's to collect the $2.7 million grocery bill. Although Gooding's has paid the bill, Supervalu executives said the chain has refused to pay court fees resulting from the suit. Supervalu is seeking to recoup legal fees plus other monies it claims it is owed.

Mideast militant groups and one of the men convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing allegedly have been linked to a $100 million coupon scam, the New York Post reported. The article said they are connected to illegal redemption ring operations in New York, Missouri and Florida and may be helping finance terrorist activities. Several grocery industry officials and others that track coupon fraud told SN they were unaware of the matter or any related investigations. Coupon fraud accounts for about $500 million a year in the $2.5 billion coupon redemption business.