Tuesday's One Liners, Tomorrow's General Membership Meeting, Next Week's Walmart Rally

Reminder tomorrow is our General Membership Meeting and Annual Toy Drive @ The Inn at New Hyde Park: More information at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UFCWLocal1500?v=app_2344061033#!/event.php?eid=116408735089069&index=1


UFCW Local 1189 has kicked off their contract campaign in Minnesota.

Queens Courier tells food retailers in Queens that there is funding available to build grocery stores.

Global retail giant Wal-Mart has targeted low-income and rural customers in China with the opening of a no-frills compact hypermarket in the eastern province of Jiangxi.

Walmart could also potentially house Wine Kiosks. 

Walmart is in a battle with San Diego, last week San Diego City Council overtuned a Mayoral veto which prohibited Supercenters from opening in the city without conducting a survey.

Opening a supercenter in the city of San Diego became much more difficult — some suggest impossible — after the City Council on Thursday overturned Mayor Jerry Sanders’ veto of an ordinance that requires retailers to conduct a study of how the stores will affect the surrounding neighborhood before moving in.

This week, Walmart has been fighting back, they've formed a campaign committee and they're gathering signatures to sign a petition to allow them to open a store.

On Tuesday, December 14th, the NYC Council will be debating the affects Walmart will have on businesses and communities throughout the five boroughs.  We're holding a rally prior to the hearing at 9:30 AM, to tell the City Council that we need Union Jobs, not irresponsible employers in the greatest city in the world.  For more information on the rally check the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112443372158284&index=1

A closed Shaw's will open as a Save-A-Lot in Connecticut.

Local 1500's December General Membership is tomorrow, December 8, at 7:30 at the Inn at New Hyde Park.  FB Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112443372158284&index=1#!/event.php?eid=116408735089069

Wednesday Morning One-Liners: Wal-Mart's Discrimination Suit, Brooklyn Plans

Wal-Mart & Brooklyn

NY1: A Wal-Mart Battle Grows in Brooklyn
With speculation mounting that Wal-Mart may try and open a store in Brooklyn, opponents of the big box retailer are already fighting back. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report. (video)

Supermarket News: ShopRite, Wal-Mart Said to Eye Brooklyn...
Both this week were said to be separately preparing to build new store sites in Brooklyn, though neither retailer had made an official announcement.

Brooklyn Eagle: Wal-Mart Coming to East NY?
“There’s no argument that Walmart will shut down small businesses,” said Pat Purcell, assistant to the President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 1500. It has been seen many times over that the low wages and vast array of products Walmart offers make this outcome inevitable. “Small businesses are killed,” he said.

WSJ: Wal-Mart a Target, Even Just Shopping

More @ WPIX11,

Wal-Mart Gender Suit
SN Wal-Mart Mulling Supreme Appeal
A U.S. appeals court here has ruled against Wal-Mart Stores in a lawsuit filed by former female employees who claim the retailer discriminated against women in awarding pay and promotions, but Wal-Mart said it is considering appealing the case to the Supreme Court.

NY Times: Steven Greenhouse, Wal-Mart Gender Case Divides Court
In a closely watched case, a sharply divided federal appeals court on Monday ruled 6-5 that a sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart could proceed as a class action for more than a million women. The suit is the biggest employment discrimination case in the nation’s history.

Forbes: Wal-Mart faces largest sex-discrimination suit in U.S. History.


Is this the employer we want in our city?

Shaw's gets support
Progressive Grocer: Unionized employees at Acme Markets in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and Shoppers Food & Drug in Maryland and Virginia are throwing their support behind the 300 workers at the Shaw’s warehouse in Methuen, Mass., who have been on strike since early March.

More @ Supermarket News

Head's up Connecticut, the Food Bazaar is expanding to CT
The New York-based chain with 16 stores specializing in serving inner-city customers, is slated to host a grand opening of its first Connecticut location here next Thursday, May 6.

LoHud: ShopRite Gets Permit to Build a City Center in White Plains
Following several months of review, the city handed a building permit to ShopRite, paving the way for the largest downtown supermarket to open at the City Center mall this fall.

Brooklyn Navy Yard
Admiral's Row to Mowed Down for ShopRite

NY Post: Brooklyn Navy Yard breaking walls to open new ShopRite



NY Times: In Wake of Immigration Law, Calls for an Economic Boycott of Arizona
A spreading call for an economic boycott of Arizona after its adoption of a tough immigration law that opponents consider racially discriminatory worried business leaders on Monday and angered the governor. 

Monday News at Noon

A hearing Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court should seal the sale of beleaguered Penn Traffic Co. to Tops Markets.

Acme cuts hours of 131 employees
The recession and price deflation are being blamed for cuts in employee hours and positions at Akron-based grocer Acme Fresh Markets.

Walmart has laid off an unspecified number of Sam's Club staffers, say several former employees of the company, a report from Forbes.com.

More:
Business Week: Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Sam’s Club chain, the second-largest U.S. warehouse club, will cut about 11,200 jobs in the next month after hiring an outside company to take over in-store product demonstrations.

Wall Street Journal:  Sam's Club, engaged in a tough struggle to stand apart from competitors, is cutting about 11,000 jobs and is turning to an independent marketing firm to handle in-store product demonstrations at its warehouses nationwide.

The Hudson Reporter reports on the new Walmart in Bergen County's impact on other supermarkets throughout New Jersey.

The New York Times reports on Walmart's continued struggles expanding in Chicago.

Walmart is also facing expansion troubles in Ontario.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle covers the Outer Borough Supermarket Attraction event.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Borough Pres calls for more Affordable Units, Supermarket in retail space.

And Elizabeth Benjamin reports Bloomberg says the city will be forced to layoff 18,500 workers if Patterson's "unfair" budget is enacted.

UFCW Local 99 Settles contract, Local 1360 authorizes strike, Local 7 gets 'best, final offer'...Monday Morning Read

Image via Wikipedia

ShopRite puts specials on iPhone Application.

UFCW Local 99 averted a strike by coming to terms with Phoenix Supermarket Operators.

South Jersey UFCW Local 1360 had a strike authorization vote.

KYW News has more.

Meanwhile UFCW Local 7 will recieve Safeway's "last, best and final offer."

Last week Joe Sitt and NYC inked the Coney Island deal.

UFCW and Smithfield Foods launched a Feed the Hungry program in NYC last week.

King Kullen is accepting water bottles at all 52 of their stores for recycling at their redemption centers.

Lee Scott, former Wal-Mart CEO, joins a private equity firm.

Wal-Mart also announced they'll be restructuring their Asada ownership.

Meanwhile there are new Black Friday rules that retailers must oblige by.

Wal-Mart Stores here said they increased productivity and improved inventory management resulted in a better customer experience and contributed to improved financial results for the third quarter, which ended Oct. 31.

Target settled their expired baby formula lawsuit.

BJ's Wholesale Club executives to speak at Morgan Stanley Global and Retail Conference.

A study has found that just one in 10 union members is in manufacturing, while women account for more than 45 percent of the unionized work force. Read more from Steven Greenhouse, NY Times.

NY Times; Union Members becoming more educated.

The first Costco opened in NYC last week.

Trader Joe's leases property on sixth avenue.....The Real Deal has more on the move.

A&P family of supermarkets teams up with City and Island Harvest to feed the hungry.

WFP BLOG: For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option

Newsday: Sometime this morning, teams of lawyers for Thomas Suozzi and Edward Mangano will begin opening and counting more than 7,000 absentee ballots in the race for Nassau County executive.

Hillary Clinton says she is not planning on running for NY Governor. 

Lou Dobbs abruptly quits CNN.

Release: Wal-Mart needs to be responsible in this economy, Gateway Center in the Bronx, Young Workers getting paid less and less, Wal-Mart's Sustainability Talks....

“Nobody wants an economy where workers earn wages that can’t support a family. Nobody wants an economy where people who go to work everyday and work hard have to turn to public assistance for basic needs." 

-UFCW International President Joe Hansen, announced a new national comprehensive American values-driven agenda to hold Walmart accountable to its workers, our communities and the planet.

Starting off the school season on the healthy foot: Produce for Kids.

The UFCW announced a campaign challenging Wal-Mart to change its corporate practices for the sake of the economy and the communities in which it operates.

The Washington Post has more.

Economy: Cutting Prices at the Grocery store to compete.

New York Times looks at the Gateway Center in the Bronx, which holds a BJ's Wholesale Club and a Target.

NYC to offer free swine flu shots for kids.

AFL-CIO Blog: Young Workers, a lost decade.

Wal-Mart Stores is reaching out to many industry sectors and people to develop its newly announced “Sustainability Index” — and it even held a meeting with competitor Kroger Co. on this topic.

Wal-Mart forced to pull advertisment with lies, Local 1776 and 7 contract updates

Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart Stores has pulled a national advertisement that says consumers can save $700 a year shopping at its stores after H-E-B challenged the ad and filed its objections with an industry group.

More on Wal-Mart's checkered advertising campaigns.

Ahold yesterday made an offer to repurchase notes to reduce net interest expense and debt. The Amsterdam-based retail conglomerate’s subsidiary, Ahold Finance USA, is proposing to buy back any and all of the outstanding $690 million 8.25 percent guaranteed senior notes due in July 2010. The buyback will be paid for out of existing cash balances.

Meanwhile the S&P upgraded their stock.

Safeway workers across Colorado have overwhelmingly rejected the grocery chain's counter-offer and re-authorized a strike first approved on May 8.

Workers for Acme Markets Inc. poured into the Spectrum last night to reject a controversial contract, paving the way for a potential July 10 work stoppage at 41 Southeastern Pennsylvania stores

Meanwhile Coloardo Safeway workers have rejected their contract proposal as well.

UFCW Local 1776 and Acme are 'nearing a showdown' as the Philadelphia Inquirer says.

Over 25,000 letters sent to the city councils of Los Angeles and New York urging elected officials to not let Wal-Mart build stores in their communities.

A Saskatchewan judge has overturned the union certification of a Walmart in Weyburn. CKOM is reporting that Justice Peter Foley said in his ruling that workers should be allowed to vote on whether they want a union or not.

Walgreens will reintroduce beer and wine into their stores.

Toys 'R' Us selling Groceries, Another Target in Staten Island, Thursday One Liners...

Image by matneym via Flickr

Aisle 4 in Toys 'R' Us: Groceries?, Toys 'R' Us announced they will begin selling groceries in 260 stores.

Kohl's and Target are looking for new stores in Staten Island.

Here's more from the 2009 Staten Island Conference.

A protest is set for tomorrow at Representative Peter King's office in light of his flip flopping views on the Employee Free Choice Act.

A Garment Factory raided by the DOL yesterday had been producing NYPD uniforms.

Supermercado de Wal-Mart, the new Hispanic-focused food concept from Wal-Mart, opened its first location in Houston Wednesday, bringing what Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman of Wal-Mart, called “the most dramatic expression” of its recent efforts to improve fresh food merchandising

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has given Ohio $1.7 million as repayment for a tax credit on an optical lab that the company closed in March.

Suffolk County makes a deal with union to avoid layoffs.

The Daily News writes on the future of the stores at Atlas Park.

Safeway workers overwhelmingly ratify a contract.

Duane Reade inks another deal in NYC.

NY Times: Cheap meat at the supermarkets.

Foxwoods and UAW talk, for 6-months now.

The group buying Balducci's chose to close the under performing stores.

The record online reports on the UFCW Local 1262 contract.

The city’s 59 community boards face budget cuts of around $7,000 each.

Marty Markowitz threw out plans for 10,000 square-feet of retail space along Surf Avenue, in Coney Island.

And finally a Nintendo DS was sold in a Wal-Mart full of rocks and Newspapers.

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• Unions push on Wal-Mart (dailyfinance.com)

Wal-Mart News...

Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart predicts zero waste by 2025.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc's recently retired Chief Executive, Lee Scott, took home a total of $30.2 million in the year ended January, slightly down from a year ago, as revealed by the company's proxy statement.

Local 1262 extends negotations, Monday Morning One Liners..

Image via Wikipedia

Supermarket News picked up Friday's Pathmark protest.

UFCW Local 1262 extends their contract negotiations.

Exon Mobil overtakes Wal-Mart Stores to top the Fortune 500.

UFCW steps up organizing efforts at Wal-Mart.

More Wal-Mart's around the country are showing signs of organizing.

The Henry Street Gristedes was damaged by a fire last week.

Safeway and Trader Joe's named most ethical.

Another supermarket ends online delivery.

BJ's eyes are still on Pittsburgh.

If you were wondering John Catsidmatids (Gristedes) did sleep in the Lincoln bedroom during the Clinton administration.

Woman was charged with embezzling $147K from the Fresh Market.

Dick Cheney has been caught shopping at Balducci's.

The closing fire sale at Balducci's has begun.

Progressive Grocer has more on the store closures...Balducci's has said they are “look[ing] forward to making an exciting announcement about the six continuing stores soon.”

The economy has stalled the progress of the Hyde Park Stop & Shop.

And finally a study has confirmed that teens tend to be "fatter" when a fast food restaurant is within one block of their school...

Wegmans Food Markets is testing new, larger shopping carts at a store here, the company said in a local news report last week.
Read more of this story

Lots of News: Wal-Mart, Employee Free Choice,

Image via Wikipedia

Albor Ruiz has an excellent editorial on the Employee Free Choice Act.

Long Island Business News writes on Employee Free Choice, has a few quotes from UFCW and SEIU.

Stop & Shop at Hampton Bays is nearly complete.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will cut 700 to 800 jobs at its northwestern Arkansas headquarters as it builds fewer new stores this year and makes other operational changes, the world's largest retailer announced last week.

Rumors of a BJ's Wholesale Club in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

25 Chinese garment workers sued manufacturer Liberty for labor violations and back wages last week and won.

WSJ: Pricing Wars in the Grocery Store Aisles.

Half of Wal-Mart employees still without Health Insurance.

Wal-Mart executives are moving.

They're also bringing their new logo to Canada.

A coalition of concerned New Yorkers last week announced the formation of New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes, the primary aim of which will be to defeat Albany's proposed 18 percent tax hike on juice drinks and soda.

Supermarket News picked up the story.

Ceasar Trunzo will step down as Islip GOP Chairman.

Just six weeks into his second term, state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson is considering challenging John Hall.

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• BLOCKBUSTER: Red Hook Mega-Mall Plans Revealed! (curbed.com)

A&P to close 5 stores, Wakefern cuts wages of pro union employee, Thursday Morning One Liners..

Image via Wikipedia

A&P to close 5 SuperFresh stores.

Joe Sorrentino, a worker at a Wakefern PriceRite Supermarket in North Providence, Rhode Island, has been punished (pay cut) for standing up for a union at his workplace, according to charges filed by UFCW Local Union 328 with the National Labor Relations Board.

A spokeswoman for Wakefern Food Corp. told SN Wednesday that the retailer demoted a Rhode Island worker for violating company policy, and not for speaking at a pro-labor rally, as a local union alleged.
Read more of this story

Here's the story on UFCW filing the charge.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it would extend settlement talks 
with Whole Foods Markets Inc  for a month in hopes of resolving an antitrust case
against the upscale grocery chain.

A piece of Gov. David Paterson's plan to plug a $13 billion budget deficit appeared to fall out Wednesday when union leaders rejected his ideas of scrapping a pay raise for state workers and having them work five days without pay.

Aldi selects a new Ad Agency.

Another death at Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart in the midst of a magazine battle.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc reported a better-than-expected 2.1 percent rise in January sales at U.S.

Costco Wholesale Corp. here yesterday said it expects it earnings for the second quarter, which ends Feb. 15, to be below analysts' consensus estimates of 70 cents per share, largely because of slow sales in nonfood items, heavy markdowns, weaker margins in fuel sales and soft international results against a strengthening U.S. dollar.
Read more of this story

Fresh & Easy’s produce sales have increased more than 11% since January, when the company introduced its new 98-cent produce packs, the company said yesterday in a release.
Read more of this story

The future of NYC (Slide Show, Crain's)

About one hundred protesters burst into a Midtown Manhattan hotel ballroom, and interrupted Mayor Bloomberg as he gave a speech about the city's economic outlook.

Andrew Cuomo accepted an invitation to speak to the Conservative Party, speculating more rumors.

Patterson to limit subway fare and toll increases.

Gillibrand to visit Brooklyn school who lost a student to gun violence.

Lee Scott said what?, Another tax loophole closes for Wal-Mart, FTC tells Whole Foods to rebrand Wild Oats, Trader John's

Image via WikipediaYesterday Lee Scott addressed the National Retail Federation in New York City, urging cooperation to solve the nations health care crisis.

Lee Scott, the outgoing chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, asked business leaders to embrace such initiatives as universal health care, renewable energy and immigration reform during a presentation to attendees at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show here yesterday.

He [Lee Scott], also sees a new consumer mindset.

Local retailers throughout China are teaming up to battle Wal-Mart.

Another Wal-Mart Tax loophole may come to an end, this time in West Virginia.

The UFCW is gearing up for their Wal-Mart battle in Canada.

More info on Wal-Mart's new private label line "the Wal-Mart Great Value line"

And if that's not enough Wal-Mart news, they're also on the verge of setting up shop in Russia.

The FTC asks Whole Foods to re-brand Wild Oats.

Whole Foods is also putting off another store, this time in New Hampshire.

Wegman's CEO recognized for 'business ethics'

AdAge brings up a great point regarding the Trader Joe's, Trader John's lawsuit. "But in New York, no one's afraid to blatantly copy and/or steal a good idea -- hence Ray's Original Pizza, Ray's Pizza, Famous Ray's Original Pizza, Original Famous Ray's Pizza, New York's Rayriginal's Fizza, etc"

Progressive Grocer picked up the story also.

Food Marketing Institute’s new president and chief executive officer said the association is working diligently on a range of issues with Congress and the incoming Obama administration.

Politics

Caroline Kennedy still has a shot at the Senate seat says Governor Patterson.

Tom Suozzi met with Patterson on the Senate seat.

Anthony Weiner blames Mayor Bloomberg for New York City's growing problems, specifically the "boom-and-bust planning"

Democrats, first time in control of the State Senate since 1965 made some moves yesterday.

Elsewhere

A battle is raging on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where CVS is wooing cash-strapped shoppers with house-brand anti-wrinkle cream that’s as much as 30 percent cheaper than L’Oreal SA’s Advanced Revitalift.

Buying online to avoid sales taxes could end soon.

Zoo's and Aquariums may face the ax here.

Do the Rockerfeller Drug laws need reform?

Ron Burkle buys 7% of Whole Foods, Stop and Shop deploys 50 "Scan it" units, Wal-Mart pays another fine, and Friday Morning One Liners...

Image by tattoodjj via FlickrStop and Shop deploys 'Scan it!' in 50 stores....More from Supermarket News.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, said fourth-quarter profit will miss its forecast and predicted January revenue may be little changed as customers curb spending globally.

Greater Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of $13.6 million, or $1.61 a share.

Billionaire Ronald Burkle bought 7% of Whole Foods. Here's more from Progressive Grocer.

Stock in Whole Foods Market here was up more than 22% Thursday after funds associated with Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. revealed they had acquired 7% of the retailer on the open market.
Read more of this story

Stuart Applebaum released a statement in response to a Thursday's announcement by Macy's Inc. that it will close 11 stores in nine states. The stores to be closed are in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Nashville and other locations.

BJ's Sales are up single digits.

Wal-Mart has paid the Southern District of Texas a &637,000 fine to resolve numerous alleged record-keeping violations of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.

Wal-Mart's private label could increase by 40%.

Fresh & Easy here has introduced 98-cent Produce Packs in response to a sharp spike in its sales of canned foods over the past few months, particularly canned fruits and vegetables, according to a company release.
Read more of this story

Wegman's is now offering free antibiotics.

Supervalu on Wednesday said it would close 50 struggling stores by next month and slash its capital budget for the coming fiscal year, as it continues to adjust to a rough economy.
Read more of this story

Politics
Adirondack Daily Enterprise mentioned UFCW Local 1500's praise of Patterson's State of the State.

Sarah Palin declares war against Tina Fey, Caroline Kennedy & Katie Couric.

Long Island could get an additional $104M in federal stimulus.

More on Patterson's 'soda tax'

"Wal-Mart Responsible for Death"- Police, Re-Zoning the hotel Pennsylvania, Wal-Mart sales up still...

Image via Wikipedia
The police in Nassau County, New York released a report this week that clearly lays the blame for a Black Friday trampling death on Wal-Mart.

Grocer Stew Leonard's Inc. is suing Dairy Farmers of America Inc., accusing the dairy marketing association of buying large amounts of cheese to distort the market in an attempt to manipulate and raise the price of raw milk and processed dairy products.

Bob Gillick, store director at the ShopRite on Tuckahoe Road, doesn't see hiring mentally disabled residents as an option - he sees it as a necessity.

Vornado wants to re-zone the Hotel Pennsylvania.

The Coney Island Coalition has created some harsh flyers about developer Joe Sitt.

Here's more on Wal-Mart's continued efforts to stop the organizing of stores in Canada.

Stop & Shop, Giant Food Launch "Major Consumer Wellness Initiative"

Food-retailing stocks in general fared better than the market overall in 2008, although more than half of the North American supermarket and wholesaler issues tracked by SN had double-digit percentage declines during the year.
Read more of this story

Whole Foods Market has pulled out of a plan to build a new store as part of a mixed-use project in downtown Miami, reports said last week.
Read more of this story

Politics

An incoming State Senator from the Bronx is facing near-record fines for violating city campaign finance laws.

Bill Clinton is rumored to take Hillary's seat.

Special election to fill Mike McMahon's vacant seat is on Feb. 24,

Here's more on all the special elections.

Wal-Mart being sued for mind control?, Stop & Shop adds 2 more stores, Morning News

Image by Brave New Films via Flickr

A man in Canada is suing Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the Mounties) for alleged mind control, satanism and witchcraft. The man claims he was "subject to invasive brain computer interface technology, research, experiments, field studies and surgery." He is seeking $2 billion in damages.

Unless your family eats less, Thanksgiving dinner will cost an average 5.6 percent more than last year's, a farmers' and ranchers' trade group said Thursday

UFCW Blog: Employee Free Choice Act is the most Democratic process.

Duane Reade sales are up.

More on Stop & Shop adding 2 Grand Unions in Mass.

Wal-Mart Stores is optimistic about its prospects for the holiday season, based on financial results for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, Lee Scott, president and chief executive officer, told investors yesterday.
Read more of this story

Ninety-three percent of consumers say that fish labeled "organic should be raised while consuming a 100% organic diet, just like other certified organic poultry and livestock, according to a recent survey from Consumers Union, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group and publisher of Consumer Reports magazine.
Read more of this story

Willets Point project is a done deal.

Quinn takes on Bloomberg's plans.

The NY Post writes: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

Whole Foods in Gowanus will open never?, Wal-Mart "upgrades" products from China, Wednesday One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart has announced it will step up its quality of products from China.

Here's more from the WSJ.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., is scheduled to convene a conference here today with many of its leading global suppliers, plus Chinese officials and non-government organizations, to outline "a series of aggressive goals and expectations to build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply chain," the company said yesterday.
Read more of this story

The Wal-Mart Foundation has delivered $577,000 to New York state's network of food banks as part of a partnership that will also have the retailer conducting food drives inside its stores.

A federal judge has awarded $4.6 million in back pay and damages to 36 delivery workers at two Saigon Grill restaurants in Manhattan, finding blatant and systematic violations of minimum-wage and overtime laws.

The Federal Trade Commission here has appointed an administrative law judge to oversee its administrative antitrust case against Whole Foods Market’s acquisition last year of Wild Oats Markets.
Read more of this story

Stew Leonard's has offered reusable canvas bags to customers since last year, but its new crop of bags, introduced this week, reflects consumer preferences in materials and design.

To help it improve its gluten-free product selection and services, Wegmans Food Markets surveyed shoppers on their gluten-free item needs

The Gowanus Lounge writes about the long awaited Gowanus Whole Foods, and says residents will have to continue their waiting...

Political

Obama says McCain is 'running out of time.'

Leaders of three major state employee unions met with Gov. David Paterson on Tuesday for what was described as a freewheeling discussion of how the state can save money to deal with its growing budget deficit.

Rep. Vito Fossella's conviction last week in Virginia for drunk driving should also be the final nail in his political coffin.

Wal-Mart's Right Wing Agenda, Whole Foods cutting store expansion?, Thursday Morning One Liners...

Recently Wal-Mart Watch launched a site [click here] that tracked Wal-Mart's political past, mainly donating to the right wing....The site is now getting national attention.

Kroger has won the 2008 Supermarket News retail excellence award.

A&P’s sharply devalued stock rebounded somewhat Tuesday after the retailer here reported increased second-quarter sales and reduced losses despite encountering additional transition problems that sunk margins at its newly acquired Pathmark stores.
Read more of this story
 

Here's more on A&P stock from the AP

Fresh Direct announced that they have eliminated over 50% of the Styrofoam from their packaging and are working to remove the rest. In early 2009 their goal is to dramatically reduce the number of boxes containing just 1 or 2 items. This will result in 1,000,000 fewer boxes each year sent into their customers' homes and recycling bins.

Pepsico to cut 3,300 jobs.

One of AOL's top stories today featured a piece telling consumers not to purchase Milk at the Supermarket now, and to purchase 5 particular items at Drug Stores like CVS for a cheaper price..

The Fresh Market became one of more than 4,500 grocery stores and restaurants participating in The Humane Society's ProtectSeals campaign to help end Canada's commercial seal hunt. 

In response to a new study that says their private-label bottled water brands contain contaminants and are basically no different than tap water, Giant Food of Landover, Md., and Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., say their products are held to strict standards.
Read more of this story
 

More press on the Riverhead Wal-Mart being overturned. 

Kroger Co. here said sales trends have continued to improve in its fiscal third quarter.
Read more of this story
 

Blog refers to Whole Foods cutting store expansion (in Brooklyn) due to financial difficulties.

Political

NY1: Hillary Clinton Calls Push To Extend Term Limits "Disturbing"

Senator Hillary Clinton, in a Wednesday interview on NY1's "Inside City Hall," said that since city voters have shot down the proposal to extend term limits twice, their voices should also be taken into consideration.

NY Times (David Chen): Clinton Says Path on Term Limits Is 'Disturbing'

Bill Clinton will appear with Anthony Weiner.

Craig Johnson and Barbara Dunno are in the midst of a heated campaign as Newsday reports.

An attorney for the Nassau Democratic Party has asked Cablevision to pull Republican-sponsored campaign ads against state Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington).

The State Senate’s top Democrat is accusing Senate Republicans of offering to block any cuts to education in an upcoming emergency special budget session in return for campaign help from a powerful teachers union.

NY Times: Change to win touts it's Campaign Machine.

Anthony Weiner will not quit the Mayoral race.

The Suffolk Legislature yesterday rejected County Executive Steve Levy's proposal to fast-track legislation to hold public hearings and issue a request for proposals to sell the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility.

And Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio continues his probe of the Yankee Stadium deal.

Wegmans closes Photo Dept, New Trader Joe's in NYC 2009, Tuesday Morning One Liners...

Image via WikipediaImage via Wikipedia

Wegman's officially closed all of their photo departments this past Saturday. 

BJ's Wholesale Club of Massachusetts says it will close its store in Greenville, putting about 60 people out of work.

The Gotham Gazette writes on the retail boom in Brooklyn.

A homeless man has been arrested on charges of shoplifting two raw steaks from a Hampton Bays supermarket, Southampton Town Police said.  Robert Noble, 50, took the steaks, worth $24.70, from a King Kullen meat case Wednesday around 2:45 p.m. and left, police said.

Price Chopper Supermarkets is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its recipe-sampling program.
Read more of this story 

UFCW Local 74D representing 148 workers at MGP Ingredients voted Friday to accept a new contract.

Members of the UFCW Local 1400 have ratified a new collective agreement with their employer, Westfair Foods in Phoenix.

Save Mart Supermarkets [California] announced last week that its recently opened Riverbank, Calif., supermarket has received a $46,000 rebate from the Modesto Irrigation District (MID), a public power agency, in recognition of the store’s energy-saving initiatives.
Read more of this story 

FITNESS magazine has named CEO of Wegmans, Danny Wegman, to its first-ever Fit 50 List,

Super 88, a chain of Asian supermarkets in Boston, has shuttered three of its six locations, including the chain’s original location in this city’s Chinatown, according to local reports last week.
Read more of this story  

Trader Joe's will open a new two-level store in a tower under construction at Broadway and 72nd Street next year.

Spartan Stores has agreed to acquire VG’s Food Center and VG’s Pharmacy, a 17-store operator based in Fenton, Mich., that is Spartan’s largest distribution customer.
Read more of this story  

Target Corp. said Friday it planned to stage 45 grand openings around the country yesterday, including its first two stores in Alaska.
Read more of this story  

Costco Wholesale Corp.’s joint-venture partner in Mexico is seeking a financial reorganization, but that should not impact the Mexican operations of Costco, industry analysts said Friday.
Read more of this story 

As part of a periodic series of consumer surveys, Wegmans Food Markets polled shoppers via email on their habits when it comes to purchasing prepared foods.

Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and c.e.o. of Wal-Mart Stores, USA will address Town Hall Los Angeles as part of its ongoing c.e.o. series on Tuesday, October 21 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Angelenos have the opportunity to ask this industry leader how the current economy changes Wal-Mart's business strategies

Political

Several polls released this morning show Barack Obama with significant leads in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Chuck Schumer will be in Queens next week to campaign for City Councilman Joseph Addabbo,

NYC council speaker backs Bloomberg plan

The widely diverging views held by Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, and Republican challenger Kieran Lalor of Peekskill present voters in the sprawling 19th Congressional District with concrete choices on Nov. 4.
 

Rapper Jay-Z, who recorded a robo-call for Barack Obama in Ohio before the primary, is out with a video for Michigan urging "all [his] people" to vote on November 4