Friday Mornin' News Brew

Here are some top industry stories to start your day:

BJ's Wholesale Club has opened up three new locations, one in Virginia and in Ithaca & Deer Park, NY.  The grand opening of the 85,000 square foot Deer Park (Long Island) store is this weekend. [Press Release]

Stop & Shop raised over $2 million for with their "Foods for Friends" program, 100% of the proceeds will go to food pantries throughout the Northeast.

The Bridgehampton Citizen Action Committee supports banning plastic bags, and wants Southampton to do the same.

One is never enough....Walmart opened their second Chicago Supercenter this week.

A Bankruptcy judge has OK'd A&P's $750M exit financing.

The Valley Stream Herald reports on Target, and us, gearing up for the February 1st NLRB hearing.

NY Industry News Briefs: 5/7-5/10

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Stop & Shop's personnel is moving back to their new million dollar offices in Mass.

The Patriot News wonders if Rite-Aid can recover.

A recently closed Pathmark will remain a supermarket.

UFCW Local 1189 has held up a scheduled May 15th vote on a new grocery industry contract while the international union reviews the proposal.

A 70,000 sqft ShopRite is proposed in New Millford, NJ.

Whole Foods sets a new goal: 1,000 stores.  Currently they operate 304.

The Supreme Court in Canada, upholds the ban on Ontario Farm Unions.

South Africa, Walmart's next ambition, is arguing that Walmart's entry into the country must be met with strong conditions or rejected.

 Forbes Blog: Why Walmart is Bad for Africa. Wal-Mart’s global sourcing model will definitely force African suppliers to match the prices of companies from countries like China which thrive on cheap, low standard labor. The domino effect of this is far reaching.

A new report surfaced concluding that a Walmart in South Africa will cost and cut 4,000 SA jobs.

A former Walmart boss was grilled in a South African Tribunal about Walmart's stance on labor and unions.

Check out recent bargaining news @AFL-CIO's blog.

Friday's News Briefs: Job Reports & Layoffs

 The hearing on the expansion of a NJ Walmart will be June 2nd.

Local 1500 represented King Kullen in St.James is seeking expansion.

U.S. Economy Added 244,000 Jobs in April; Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.0%...Check out 5 questions about these numbers via NY Times.

Mayor Bloomberg's new budget will layoff thousands of teachers.

UFCW and Smithfield are continuing their Hunger Tour, donating 228,000 servings of protein to the Alabama tornado victims.

In Ohio, Local 880 Rite-Aid workers have been on strike looking for a new contract from the company.

BJ's Wholesale Club saw an increase in sales in April.  Target saw double-digit increases in sales but were disappointed.

Morning One-Liners: 3/22-3/24; BJ's Wholesale Club Takeover Looms, A&P Warned of Strike...

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Yesterday, the Affordable Act turned 1 year old, giving millions of women access to equal & affordable health care for the first time in their lives.

UFCW 81 and 21 have merged, Local 81 and will now become a part of UFCW Local 21.

Supermarket News: Unions Warn A&P of a Strike...SN covered President Both's statement from Tuesday regarding A&P/Pathmark Bankruptcy.

A new Red Apple Supermarket will be opening in Fort Greene, finally getting a supermarket.

BJ's Wholesale Club takeover talks continue to loom. @NYTimes @WSJ @BostonHerald

Hundreds of "mini Walmarts" slated to open in the next few years; Chicago, San Diego, NYC.

5 Foodtowns in Jersey will be sold to Stop & Shop, retaining the union, UFCW 1262's representation.  More @ Patch.

Elsewhere the Queensboro Bridge will be renamed to the Koch Bridge.

Friday Morning One Liners...Tesco loses over $200 million, UFCW Local 7 updates, Aldi still looking for land

“Since Harry Truman was president, Democrats have fought to make it more affordable to live a healthy life in America,” Mr. Reid said. “Every day, we come closer to achieving that goal.”

-Harry Reid, of Nevada, Democratic majority leader, in today's New York Times "Health Care Bill Gets Green Light in Cost Analysis"

An amendment that would allow for businesses to incentivize healthy lifestyles in the style of Safeway’s voluntary “Healthy Measures” program was approved by an 18-4 vote by the Senate Finance Committee as part of a health care reform bill.  A spokesman for Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who co-sponsored the bill, referred to it as “the Safeway Amendment” according to published reports.

Wal-Mart de Mexico net profits up 18%.

A Bi-Low/Food Lion merger would test the FTC an analyst said yesterday, exceeding a 35% market share in 9 markets.

After their latest offer was rejected two days ago, Kroger and Safeway are considering new negotiations in Denver, UFCW Local 7 and the two companies have not met face to face since early September.

More and more reports of Fresh Direct trucks blocking bike lanes throughout NYC.

Newsday updates Nassau County's "Lighthouse Project"

Wegman's is offering a new 'full service restaurant' in a new 132,000 sqft., 24-hour Pennsylvania store.  The store has also opened a dispute regarding their sale of liquor and alcohol.

Tesco, the parent company of the West Coast's "Fresh & Easy" stores, continues to struggle and will lose about $239 million this year. 

President of Local 338, John Durso writes an Op-Ed in Long Island Business News on the need for a public option.

Aldi, who announced they were coming to Queens, is apparently still looking for land in Queens.

The Working Families Blog covers the Stella D'oro rally at City Hall.

The Daily News has more on the closing.

Dan Cantor, Director of the WFP is interviewed.

Blog: Sweatshop Conditions in U.S. cities.

A recent mailer by BJ's Wholesale Club had 'white powder all over it'. 

Ex-Homeless youth in NYC tell their stories on TV (WPIX CH.11) this weekend.

The Fresh Market, who plans to break ground next week upstate [Latham], now gets the shopping center named after them...


And Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

UFCW contract updates, ACME settles, Stella D'Oro fights to stay open, Amish Market in Glendale not popular anymore?

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Good Morning on a Friday!

Workers at Stella D’Oro are filing an NLRB charge alleging that a private equity company is illegally closing the plant to avoid the union.

BJ's aims to take business from supermarkets during recession:
BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. , the No. 3 U.S. warehouse club operator, is focused on taking business from grocery stores as consumers look to save money on food in the recession.

Staten Island residents are more than pleased that Pathmark is returning to New Dorp.

Contracts
Fresh & Easy suppliers have a union election tomorrow (Friday) in California.

UFCW Local 1776 approved a contract with ACME yesterday.

Here's the letter that ACME president sent to all UFCW members....More at the Progressive Grocer.

Congratulations to workers at Swift meatpacking plant:
UFCW Local 711 reached a contract agreement with JBS a meat packing plant, a negotiation which took a little over eight months. The first contract for workers at JBS Swift & Co. will result in a 4.6% increase in the 1,100 employees at the plant.

Denver-area Safeway and King Soopers workers agreed Wednesday to extend their contracts with the grocery chains until Aug. 15...
The latest news is that negotiations are moving towards equal pay.

Must Read:
The Gotham Gazette: An Outer Borough Drought.
The Gazette looks at the supermarket drought throughout the five boroughs, a topic which we've been lobbying and arguing for the last year with our Building Blocks Project.

Developments:
Gourmet Garage opens up in the Upper West Side.

Rumors continue to arise regarding a new Trader Joe's or Gourmet Garage in the SOHA (South Harlem) building between 117th and 118th Street on Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

Food Lion will build it's first 'Green Supermarket' in southern California.

Hannaford, here in the North East, will unveil their first 'Green Supermarket'.

Atlas Park: Craving a supermarket not an Amish Market.
“The community of Glendale is crying out for a supermarket to move into their neighborhood, and we have just the location for you,” the prepared materials read.

One prospective tenant, Western Beef, has already turned down Atlas Park over parking access.
Read more at the Queens Tribune.

Wal-Mart:
In a long five year battle, UFCW Local 1400 (Canada) is appealing a decision by Court of Queen's Bench Justice Peter Foley, who ruled last month that the certification of a Wal-Mart, in the town of Weyburn, was wrong.

Workers in foreign factories that supply Wal-Mart can't blame the company for their alleged sweatshop conditions, despite the retail giant's code of conduct that's supposed to hold its contractors to decent labor standards, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Wal-Mart Stores here will discuss the development of a new index that measures the "social and environmental impact" of its products at a press conference today, reports said yesterday.
UFCW responds to Bashas' bankrupcy.

Whole Foods/Trader Joe's:
Greenpeace vs Trader Joe's in the sustainable seafood war.

Whole Foods Market is promoting the fact that one of its own lives in Alaska for the summer to ensure that the best salmon is carried in its stores.

Whole Foods Organically Certified:
Whole Foods Market yesterday announced that it each of its 273 U.S. stores has been individually certified organic by CCOF, a non-profit, U.S. Department of Agriculture accredited third-party certifier established in 1973.

Politics

The NY Mets, everyone's lovable losers, owe New York City more than $2 million due to 'underreported profits'

Texting banned while driving in NYC.

The NY Senate gives more power to the minority.

Carolyn Maloney has an edge over Kirsten Gillibrand in a Rasmussen poll.

Monday Morning One Liners...

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Kristen Gillibrand was on Long Island this week with Tom Suozzi, she acknowledged King Kullen for buying local products.

UFCW Local 7 files a complaint against their grocery stores.

Progressive Grocer reports they may strike soon.

Politicians are urging Costco to accept food stamps.

NY Times (Nicholas Confessore): Paterson's Order Will Help Unions Trying to Organize

Gov. David A. Paterson has issued an order making it easier for labor unions to organize thousands of workers at some of New York's largest new hotel and convention center projects, including hotels in Niagara Falls and at the Belmont Park racetrack in Nassau County and the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The directive, which was signed on April 24 and issued on Friday, will require the operators of projects that receive assistance like loans, tax breaks or property leases from state agencies or public authorities to obtain "labor peace" agreements with unions seeking to organize their workers. Under the agreements, workers would pledge not to strike, boycott or engage in other actions that would disrupt business or deprive the state of revenues.

C&S Wholesale Grocers was the winning bidder in last week’s auction of Bruno’s stores, agreeing to purchase all 56 locations from the retailer it supplies for $48.5 million.

Price Chopper, among a three grocers receiving technology awards this year.

Wal-Mart drops to number 2 on Forbes 500.

Laura Sen, the CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club gives her budget tips in a tough economy.

Politics

Bill Thompson accuses Mike Bloomberg of ducking debates.

GOP announces a candidate to take on Suozzi (Long Island)

Wal-Mart NYC rumors, BJ's gains, Patterson cuts salary...

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Wal-Mart NYC rumors spur up again.

Costco is pressuring suppliers for lower prices.

BJ's Wholesale Club is anticipating comparable-store sales increases of 5%-7% this year — after gains of 6.4% in 2008

Endorsements of a new "Food Safety Bill"

Wegmans is soliciting customer support for the state wine proposal.

AFL-CIO is in talks with Change to Win on reuniting.

Wal-Mart eyes Japan expansion.

Wal-Mart February sales soared once again.

Politics

David Paterson promises to cut his pay by 10 percent.

The Bottle Bill gets a public hearing, and another to come on Friday.