Did you know…
And the beat goes on…
- That rumors continue to fly in the UK that a bid is about to be made for fourth-ranked supermarket chain Safeway Plc? Asda is at the center of the speculation, but no bids have been made as of this posting.
- That Target Corp. will spend between $3.3 billion and $3.5 billion to open 94 new stores in 2003, including 32 superstores?
- That Royal Ahold plans to integrate its operations in Central Europe and create a new operation, Ahold Central Europe? The new organization will be responsible for more than 400 Albert Heijn supermarkets and Hypernova hypermarkets in Central Europe with combined sales that are the equivalent of about $2.6 billion (US). This is part of Ahold’s move to closely examine its core businesses for optimal efficiencies.
- That the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is continuing to study whether Nestle should be allowed to acquire 67 percent of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream for $2.4 billion? The concern, according to USAToday, is that the purchase will give Nestle too much power in the super premium ice cream business. Possibly at issue: Dreyer's deal with Unilever to distribute Ben & Jerry's nationally.
- That Grocery Gateway, which just last week announced that it signed a deal in which it will use Sobey’s as its grocery supplier, is negotiating with Home Depot Canada to carry its home improvement products? The deal will help the e-grocery company expand its product offering, as well as giving Home Depot exposure to the grocery company’s largely female customer base.
And the beat goes on…
- KC's View:
