- A new study of online grocery shopping in the UK by Insight Research reveals that it now accounts for about one percent of all grocery sales in that country, with a third of online grocery shoppers buying most of their food through this channel. The online grocery segment is expected to grow about 20 percent a year in the UK, and at the moment Tesco.com is the dominant player, accounting for more than 60 percent of the e-grocery business in the UK.
- Kroger Co. announced that it will combine its retail divisions in Livonia, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio, and named Jon Flora, currently president of the Michigan division, to lead the combined divisions. The company plans to spend upwards of $185 million to open new stores and rehab older ones in Michigan.
The new KMA will be headquartered in Columbus.
- The US Department of Justice Department has filed suit against Smithfield Foods, accusing it of breaking antitrust laws by failing to report that it bought stock in its rival IBP, which subsequently was acquired by Tyson.
The government says that Smithfield bought the IBP stock as a first step towards a merger, and is seeking a fine of $5.4 million.
- Ocean Spray has rejected an unsolicited offer from Northland Cranberries to buy its beverage business and brand name for about $800 million.
- As if it isn’t selling enough stuff, Amazon.com has gotten approval from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to start selling Internet domain names and addresses to both individuals and businesses.
