TEAMSTERS HIT AHOLD CROSS-DOCKING PLAN

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Royal Ahold, parent company of 625 U.S. stores, is being targeted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and a variety of civic groups over its plan to establish a cross-docking operation near Buffalo for its Tops Markets division. The union ran an ad in three Dutch newspapers that was critical of Ahold's proposed cross-docking facility and sent a delegation to Holland to attempt to speak to Ahold executives.

al Ahold spokesman said cross-docking is an improvement that makes the company more efficient, and making the company more competitive can eventually lead to new employment opportunities.