Monday News at Noon...

Key Food owner gives back to his community
D'Urso is both the owner of a Key Food on Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill and a humanitarian who loves contributing to his community.


Key Food chain eyes former Shaw's New Haven site
The Greater Dwight Development Corp. is reportedly negotiating with Key Food, a chain of supermarkets in New York City, to fill the space left by Shaw's Supermarket on Whalley Avenue.


Unfair Fowl! Heights Key Food appears to have doctored 'sell-by' date on a chicken
A Brooklyn Heights Key Food was investigated last week after a woman alleged that store workers placed a new "sell by" label on her chicken- 11 days after the date


New York City's Larges Grocery Workers Union Endorses Francisco Moya for New York State Assembly
UFCW Union Local 1500, New York City's larges Labor Union representing supermarket workers, has announced its endorsement of Francisco Moya for New York State Assembly in the 39th Assembly District in Queens.


Hannaford prompts mixed feelings in Saranac Lake (NY)


Wegmans Warns of Check Scam
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is cautioning consumers about a scam involving fraudulent checks with the grocer's name


30 Rock star Alec Baldwin talks about Wegmans
Wegmans appears to have a grip on one of the country's most famous actors and his mother...


California Wal-Mart Workers Win Settlement over Wage Violations


SEIU's Henry to "refocus" union
UFCW and SEIU jointly campaign against the abuses of Wal-Mart, and the monster anti-worker retailer.


Gov. Paterson threatens cutting 10k jobs
Albany-- Gov.Patterson has put massive state employee layoffs "on the radar screen" after being told the no-layoff pledge he signed with public employee unions is not legally binding


Trader Joe's Founder to Chair Cost Plus
Oakland,Calif- Cost Plus said Joseph H. Coulombe, founder of Trader Joe's Markets, has been named non-executive chairman


Roundy's Prepares to open Chicago- Area Mariano's
Roundy's Supermarkets is now hiring employees for its newest concept, Mariano's Fresh Market, expected to open in Alrighton Heights, Ill., next month


Retail Industry Hails Passage of Interchange Fee Amendment
The amendment enables merchants to offer discounts or incentives for customers to use competing card networks and for customers to pay by cash, check or debit car, as well as allowing retailers to choose to set a minimum or maximum amount to use a credit card.


Culhane Joins Tops as New Perishables Veep
Jeff Culhane has joined Tops Markets, LLC as its new VP of perishable marketing. In his new role at the Williamsville,N.Y.-based Tops, Culhane will be directly responsible for the marketing and merchandising of all of the perishable departments. 


The Food Emporium Offers Arty Bag for a Good Cause
The Food Emporium has teamed up with 3D pop artist Charles Fazzino on a special-edition reusable bag design that will be exclusive to the A&P banner's Manhattan stores.

Monday Morning One Liners..."Penn Traffic stores likely to be bought"

Image by UFCW Local 1500 via Flickr

New York State recovers record levels of illegally paid wages in 2009
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State recovered record levels of illegally underpaid wages for workers in 2009. Through enhanced enforcement of existing labor laws, the State Department of Labor collected and disbursed $28.8 million to nearly 18,000 New York workers. For the second year in a row, these recovered wages represent the largest amount of money the Labor Department has collected and distributed in its 100 plus years of existence.

UFCW Local 1776 backs Tops' bid to purchase Penn-Traffic stores.

Whole Foods was the top food retail stock gainer in 2009.

"Most of Penn Traffic stores likely to be bought": Senator Chuck Schumer, NY.

Marley Coffee, the organic gourmet coffee company founded by Rohan Marley, son of legendary Bob Marley is now being distributed by Whole Foods Market.

Food retailers in NY are seeing higher costs in renovations due to last year's passage of the expanded 'bottle bill'.

Costco announces plans to open a store in Rego Park.


Politics
The NY Post reports that President Obama wants Patterson off the ticket.

Meanwhile Rep.Charles Rangel says Cuomo won't dare run against Patterson.

And Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced he will run against David Patterson.

Pedro Espada has plans for rent-stabilized apartments for families making less than $45,000 annually.