NEWS WATCH: STOP & SHOP TO ADD STAPLES DEPARTMENTS CHAINWIDE... PUBLIX SLATES TWO STORES FOR HISPANIC CONVERSIONS... NASH FINCH TO RAISE $150 MILLION IN NOTE OFFERING...

STOP & SHOP TO ADD STAPLES DEPARTMENTS CHAINWIDE

t would add branded Staples office supply departments in all 550 of its Stop & Shop and Giant Food-Landover stores. The store-within-a-store areas will range between 40 and 80 feet, and feature between 500 and 1,200 school and home office supplies, including paper, ink cartridges and technology products. The rollout should be complete by early July, the companies said. Staples, based in Framingham, Mass., has tested the concept in approximately 60 Stop & Shop stores, and is testing a similar program at select Kroger stores in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

PUBLIX SLATES TWO STORES FOR HISPANIC CONVERSIONS

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets here said it would convert stores in Kissimmee, Fla., and Hialeah, Fla., to a Hispanic-themed supermarket format called Publix Sabor. The stores are expected to open by early May, the company said. They will feature expanded offerings in Hispanic grocery categories and will be staffed with bilingual employees. "Publix Sabor was designed to meet the needs of our customers in particular neighborhoods throughout the Central and South Florida regions," Publix said in a statement. "This store prototype will provide Publix with many opportunities to refine how we reach our Hispanic customers and serve as an important model in the years ahead."

NASH FINCH TO RAISE $150 MILLION IN NOTE OFFERING

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nash Finch here intends to raise $150 million for its recently announced purchase of two Roundy's warehouses through a private placement of convertible notes. The notes, due in 2035, are offered at a discount to their aggregate principal at maturity, the company said, adding that purchasers have an option to purchase up to an additional 10% of the principal amount at maturity. Cash interest of 3.5% is payable semi-annually through 2013. Holders will receive $1,000 per note at maturity. Nash Finch late last month said it would purchase Roundy's warehouse facilities in Westville, Ind., and Lima, Ohio, for $225 million. Proceeds from the note sale would apply to the purchase price or to repay debt, it said.

WAKEFERN TO RELOCATE DC AFTER FAILED NEGOTIATIONS

ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Wakefern here has told workers at its Wallkill, N.Y., warehouse that it will close the facility because it failed to reach an agreement on a new labor contract, a spokesman for the Teamsters local that represents the workers told SN last week. Although the union had recommended the workers accept Wakefern's "last, best and final" offer, the workers' bargaining committee wanted pension improvements, said Fred Smit, secretary/treasurer, Teamsters Local 445, Newburgh, N.Y. Wakefern, which buys and distributes products for the ShopRite cooperative in the New York-New Jersey area, will shift distribution to newly leased space near Allentown, Pa., according to a report in the Times Herald-Record of Orange County, N.Y. About 395 Wallkill employees are affected. Wakefern declined to comment.

SAFEWAY EXTENDS ONLINE SALES TO PHOENIX

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway here last week launched its online grocery service, Safeway.com, in the Phoenix market. This is Safeway's first online offering beyond West Coast states. Safeway.com is a partnership between Safeway and U.K. retailer Tesco. According to Safeway's announcement, almost all items available in a bricks-and-mortar location can be purchased online, including Safeway Club Card specials. The service offers deliveries of prescription refills, and same-day delivery at no extra charge for grocery orders placed before 9 a.m. Safeway.com heretofore delivered in Portland, Ore.; Vancouver, Wash.; and the Bay Area, Sacramento and San Jose areas of Northern California. Service in the San Diego and Los Angeles markets is handled by Vons.com.