ORGANIC BABY-FOOD LINE TODDLES INTO ALBERTSON'S

CHRISTINE BLANK

BOISE, Idaho (FNS) -- Albertson's here is bringing a new organic baby-food line into its freezer sections.

The chain will begin selling four vegetarian meals in The Well Fed Baby line in its Pacific Northwest; Colorado; Sacramento, Calif.; and Salt Lake City regions, and national distribution is expected by the end of the year, according to officials at The Well Fed Baby.

The certified organic and kosher meals -- which are also soy-based -- include Millet & Mangos, Baby Carrots & Green Beans, Brown Rice & Lentils and Tofruity (mangos, bananas and tofu). "We recognize that The Well Fed Baby fills a distribution void and can only improve Albertson's position in all marketing areas we do business in," said John Colgrove, corporate director of grocery sales at Albertson's.

The complete meals are offered to consumers so they do not have to purchase multiple jars of baby food for each meal, according to O. Robin Sweet, president and founder of the San Diego-based company.

The Well Fed Baby began marketing its meals last year, but had sold them primarily in natural-food stores. Now, the company is working with several grocery chains on launches of the line.

Albertson's sells other natural and organic jarred baby food, including the Earth's Best organic line.