NEWS WATCH: GIANT EAGLE OPENS EXPANDED C-STORE CONCEPT...WAKEFERN POSTS GAINS IN SHOPRITE CHAIN SALES...NEW YORK UNION SETS DEADLINE FOR STRIKE VOTE

Giant Eagle Opens Expanded C-Store Concept

ed to host a grand opening today for its first GetGo Superette, an expanded version of its GetGo fuel and convenience store chain, in Wilkinsburg, Pa. The 5,000-square-foot concept store offers a broader selection of perishables including more than 100 produce items, a 12-foot packaged meat section, a 16-foot dairy mart and a deli with sliced packaged meats and cheeses. The GetGo Superette will also offer a self-service fuel station with 12 pumps. It is the 100th location for the GetGo chain, the first of which opened three years ago. "We'll provide the best of both worlds - a high-quality, fresh bodega-style market that offers the right assortment of 'fill-in' and immediate consumption products," said Dan Pastor, Giant Eagle's vice president of fuel and convenience store operations.

Wakefern Posts Gains in ShopRite Chain Sales

ELIZABETH, N.J. - Wakefern Food Corp. here recorded $9.2 billion in annual retail sales for the fiscal year that ended Oct. 1 - a 3.4% increase from just under $9 billion in fiscal 2004. Retail sales include the combined sales of corporate-owned stores and the cooperative's 42 member-owners, who operate nearly 200 stores in five states under the ShopRite banner. Joseph A. Colalillo, chairman and chief executive officer, reported the results during ShopRite's annual meeting last month. Colalillo, Dean Janeway, president, and Joseph Sheridan, executive vice president, were re-elected to their positions at the meeting.

New York Union Sets Deadline for Strike Vote

NEW YORK - United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 here said it may take a strike vote of its membership as early as June 12 as contracts for 15,000 of its members at Pathmark, Stop & Shop and King Kullen stores in the New York metro area expire June 24. Bruce W. Both, president of the Queens Village, N.Y.-based union, in a statement urged an early agreement on a new deal, saying that health care benefits, pension financing, premium pay and wage increases are key issues. Contracts for another 6,000 Local 1500 workers at area D'Agostino, Key Food and Gristedes stores expire in September.

Winn-Dixie Seeks Approval for Warehouse Sales

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge here will hold hearings to approve the sale of various assets of Winn-Dixie Stores, including former warehouses in Louisville, Ky., and Montgomery, Ala., on June 15, according to court documents. Winn-Dixie said Seay Properties, Louisville, has offered $3.75 million for its Louisville, Ky., warehouse, and that the retailer would accept bids for its Montgomery facility at an auction June 14. Winn-Dixie is also seeking approval for a bid of $2 million from BH Properties for a Stockbridge, Ga., store, and for a $1.4 million sale of outparcels at certain Miami stores, court papers said.

Ahold to Acquire 29 Netherlands Konmar Stores

AMSTERDAM - Ahold here said last week that its Albert Heijn and Schuitema banners have agreed to acquire 29 Konmar stores from Laurus Nederland B.V. for around $141 million in cash. Albert Heijn will acquire 23 of the stores, and Schuitema, a consolidated subsidiary of Ahold, will acquire six. The acquired stores will be renovated and converted to the Albert Heijn and C1000 banners, respectively, Ahold said.

Wal-Mart Monthly Sales at Low End of Estimates

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - High fuel prices during May led to fewer customer visits and comparable-store sales at the low end of company estimates for Wal-Mart Stores here, the company said last week. Wal-Mart reported overall comps of 2% - 2.3% in the U.S. - for the four weeks that ended May 27. It had expected comps of 2% to 4%. Wal-Mart forecast June comps to be up 1%-3%.