NEWS WATCH: WINN-DIXIE ELIMINATES ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS...WILD OATS SHARES RISE ON ACQUISITION TALK...SUPERVALU TO OPEN SIX NEW CUBS IN THE TWIN CITIES

WINN-DIXIE ELIMINATES ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS

es here said last week it eliminated 10% of its administrative and support staff as part of a cost-reduction initiative. After posting negative same-store sales of 4.5% in the most recent quarter, the company last month said it was embarking on an extensive price-cutting campaign that would require expense reduction. A Winn-Dixie spokeswoman told SN that layoffs were "spread throughout our marketing areas."

WILD OATS SHARES RISE ON ACQUISITION TALK

BOULDER, Colo. -- Shares of Wild Oats Markets here rose 10.8%, to $12.30, on trade reports that Kroger Co., Cincinnati, was considering buying the natural foods chain. Spokesmen for the companies declined to comment.

SUPERVALU TO OPEN SIX NEW CUBS IN THE TWIN CITIES

MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu here said last week it will open six new Cub Foods stores in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market by early 2005, a move that will bring the total number of Cubs in the Twin Cities to 50. Each of the first four stores, which are scheduled to open by March 2004, will feature a full-service pharmacy, the company noted.

AHOLD TO SELL C-STORE CHAIN TO THE PANTRY

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here said last week it agreed to sell Golden Gallon, the 138-store convenience store chain once operated by Bi-Lo, Maudlin, S.C. (an Ahold operating company) to The Pantry, a Sanford, N.C.-based C-store operator. Golden Gallon, which was acquired by Ahold in May 2000, had 2002 sales of approximately $375 million. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Ahold said the sale was part of its previously announced strategy to shed non-core assets. Another Ahold C-store chain, 205-unit Wilson Farms Neighborhood Food Stores, which is operated by Tops Markets, Buffalo, N.Y., is also for sale, according to published reports. A group of investors reportedly offered Ahold $40 million for the chain, was rebuffed, and has since discussed a $45 million offer. A Tops spokeswoman was not available for comment.