Top 13 Stories This Week: Republicans Crush It, Voters Want High-er Wages

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Over $100 Million Spent in Midterm Elections by Koch Brothers and Republicans

The most expensive midterm election by far was this week, and it seems to have paid off for the Koch Brothers and Republicans....Even more, they aren't done, the Freedom Partners Action Fund has already plunked down $2.1 million for the Louisiana runoff.

LOCAL FEATURE

Negotiations began with King Kullen last week, and will begin with Stop & Shop next week.

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK 1. NYS Senator Gillibrand sits down with Stephen Colbert for Post Election Interview Hear her reaction to the election, and her plans for New York. 2. Costco, Publix Lead Way: Not Opening on Thanksgiving The two mega retailers are refusing to open on Thanksgiving.

3. Throwback UFCW Ad Surfaces on Facebook Checkout this old advertisement, produced by our President, Bruce Both, & Secretary-Treasurer, Tony Speelman, in the early 90's.

4. Where's the Loot? Special Report Reveals Hundreds of Companies Dodging Taxes thru Luxembourg FedEx, Pepsi, Ikea & hundreds of other companies channel 100s of billions thru Luxembourg to save billions in taxes.

5. Oil Prices are Dropping...So What? The global oil supply has increased and demand has weakened, prices are down to about $80 a barrel, a more than 25 percent drop since June, and recently fell to a three-year low.

6. John Boehner and Mitch McConnell Pledge to Repeal Obamacare. DailyKos: Go For It. Politics Round Up: Oakland Minimum Wage Wins in Land-Slide San Fran Minimum Wage Voted in @ $15 per hour Alaska, DC, Oregon Legalize Marijuana Democrats: Winning Issues, Losing Candidates Supermarket Industry Reacts to Election Voters Favor Higher Wages, Sick Days

7. Four States Vote to Raise the Minimum Wage The wage increase won its biggest margin of victory in Alaska, where it garnered 69 percent of the vote. In Arkansas, it received 65 percent; in Nebraska, 59 percent approved raising the minimum wage, while in South Dakota, the margin was 53 percent.

8. Trumka Calls on Obama for Immediate Action on Immigration Wasting no time after the midterm elections, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka immediately stepped back into the policy arena, calling on President Barack Obama to take executive action on immigration.

9. Fairway Sales Up 5.9%, but Lower Margins

10. San Fran Cab Drivers Officially Join Union...Take Aim @ Uber, Sidecar

A group of San Francisco cabdrivers in mid-August voted to unionize for the first time in decades. Three weeks ago, the alliance passed the 550 paid members requirement and the affiliation ceremony by the National Taxi Workers Alliance took place Monday, enabling members to access union resources when the taxi industry most needs them.

11. Analysts are Up on Whole Foods

12. Delhaize to Sell Bottom Dollar to Aldi

The group announced Thursday in Brussels that it has signed an agreement to sell Bottom Dollar Food's 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets to Aldi for approximately $15 million.

Related: Market Basket Walkout Boosts Delhaize Sales

13. Local 880 Signs Contract with Giant Eagle, Heinens

Editorials of the Week:

It Shouldn't Take Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage

Why is Congress needed to force corporations to help build our nation?

An L.A. Story: Unions Show a Sign of Life

A profile of Unite Here member: Gabriela Ochoa is a vivacious woman who buses tables at the Landings Restaurant at the Holiday Inn near Los Angeles International Airport, a job she has held since 2001.

Photo of the week via State Dems:

Food Emporium Sale Update

Crain's NY Business has released an update on the potential suitors for Food Emporium, citing some familiar names as potential buyers.  Mentioned were Christian Haub (former CEO A&P), Castimatidis (Gristedes), Whole Foods & Trader Joe's.   

What's at stake? Over 1,000 union jobs.

John Durso, president of Local 338, which represents 14 of the Food Emporium stores: "It is disappointing that the company put up one of its best assets for sale, but we will work with the successful bidder as long as it respects our collective bargaining agreement."

We'll be constantly updating our blog and members on any breaking news or developments during the sale process of Food Emporium.

Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120916/RETAIL_APPAREL/309169978

Supermarket News also released an update on the sale, pricing the chain at anywhere from $100-150 million.

Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of retail leasing and sales for Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, New York, described Food Emporium as having “exceptional” locations that could attract a range of uses. “This is Christmas come early for Trader Joe’s,” she said.

Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/aampp/ap-seeks-divest-nyc-chain-food-emporium#ixzz26jhamlpr

Related articles

• Alert: Notice to all UFCW 1500 Members Working for A&P/Pathmark

What We're Reading Monday: Rally for Locked Out Con Edison Workers

The Wall Street Journal wants to know: What's Wrong with America's Supermarkets?

The NLRB slammed Tesco for their anti-union coupons, the coupons apologized to customers for union picket lines.

Bronx residents are flocking to Queens to apply for jobs w/  Fresh Direct, as the company plans to open a new warehouse in the Bronx in 2013.

A study pronounced Target pays more attention to social media and responds more frequently than Walmart.

Target & Walmart are on a Canadian hiring binge.

Unbelievable: US Olympic Team Uniforms Made in China. 

Huffington Post Op-Ed on our own USA Olympic team not purchasing American made gear for the opening ceremonies. Ugh.  Update: 2014 uniforms will now be made in America due to outcry, Romney says "it doesn't matter."

Mass Labor March Tomorrow, July 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM to support the locked out Con Edison workers. Here's a list of all the solidarity support sites.  Sign the petition online to support the 8,500 locked out workers here.


ShopRite bought a gas station in Albany to compete with Price Chopper.

SaveMart in Cali has reached a settlement with UFCW Locals 5, 8 and 648.  More @ Patch. Here's the UFCW statement.

Commentary: Union Organizing is Community Organizing in Brooklyn @ Golden Farms.

The support of NYCC and the unions couldn’t have come at a better time for Golden Farm workers. Overtime and wage and hour violations are prevalent at the community grocery, and the clear violations forced Mr. Kim to settle the aforementioned 2011 class action lawsuit. Prior to the election, Mr. Kim forced employees to meet with an anti-union consultant.

Oregon's cannabis tax makes the ballot in November, why is this in here? UFCW 555 was a major supporter of this initiative.

Whole Foods is planning layoffs in Illinois.   They're also suing Vitamin Shoppe over a campaign slogan: "Core Health Starts Here" which they claim is too similar to Whole Foods notorious slogan "Health Starts Here"

Acme's parent company said the supermarket chain may explore more options as sales are continually down,  Local 1776 President said bankruptcy does not appear imminent.

New York City Taxi Drivers received an overdue raise last week.

Head shaking story of the week: Aldi in Europe destroyed a row of 300-year old cottages under historical preservation while "developing" a new store, they won't be fined or penalized although because it's "too expensive to fine them". 

What to Read Wednesday: How much will the bribes hurt Walmart?

Progressive Grocer writes about Target remodeling stores, neglects to write how stores throughout the country will remain open, but Target Valley Stream will close in 4 days for renovations.


Walmart, after bribing Mexican Officials to get into Mexico, is working here in the U.S. to weaken International Anti-Bribery laws.  Forbes looks at what this will mean for their business, TheStreet wonders if they're the next Enron and if AG Eric Holder will go after Walmart.

The Mexico news has stirred up lots of politics in NY races.  The USA Today covered yesterday's Walmart speak out at NYC City Hall.

Governor Cuomo (N.Y.) doesn't have a position on Walmart in NYC.

To respond Walmart has created a new position to insure the company is in line with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Whole Foods will be opening a 'pop-up' store in Montauk for the summer season. The farmers market type store test the location to see if they'll be able to set up permanently in the East End of Long Island.

Monday Mornin' One-Liners: 99% Spring & Whole Foods in BK x2

The UFCW has joined the 99% spring, a movement to train activists throughout the spring of 2012.

April 9-15 we will gather across America, 100,000 strong, in homes, places of worship, campuses and the streets to train ourselves in non-violent action and join together in the work of reclaiming our country. History is calling; it’s time to step up.

American Labor Leaders are planning a door-to-door approach to help Obama's presidential campaign.

Christine Quinn has said she cannot support a paid sick days bill. 

The bill “will cost us jobs and cost us small businesses and their future in these tough economic times,” Quinn added, again using the same words spoken in January.

Great read from The Open Salon: The War Against Economic Recovery, highlights our Target Change campaign, and how our road to economic recovery starts with businesses creating good jobs.

Ad Age looks at retail in a piece focused on Target, Walmart & Kohls in: 'Size Matters in Retail'

Whole Foods is coming to Brooklyn, again.  They'll be moving into the heart of Willyburg at 242 Bedford, a 2nd Brooklyn Site.

Last week we came out against the NY GOP Senate's move to repeal the Wage Theft Prevention Act, a bill designed to protect workers and ensure they're getting paid the correct wages, the Huffington Post picked up the story.

A&P announced they're emerged from bankruptcy last week, they also named a new CFO.

UFCW Local 8 began picketing at Fresh and Easy stores last week.  In These Times (a great working blog) writes more about the clash between Fresh & Easy and San Fran natives.

Walmart in South Africa: 503 jobs reinstated as conditions of merger.  

Must Read: Not a mobster or a monster, just a union activist.

This is not just my job. It’s my lifestyle: I am a union activist. Yup, I'm one of those “maniacs” marching out on the streets with a sign that reads “STRIKE.”  But while some critics have slammed union activists as “mobsters,” I sure don’t look like what they might expect: I wear floral dresses, pink lipstick and talk to workers about their rights over coffee and jelly donuts.

Update on RWDSU's campaign Wash NY: East Harlem car wash workers confront owner over pay and working conditions.

Couldn't make the General Membership meeting last week? Check out the recap in our Blog.

Weeks End News Briefs: Walmart in LA, A&P Bankruptcy & Whole Foods in Brooklyn

Here's a round up of the top News from this week: 

The A&P Bankruptcy judge has OK'd the company's Chapter 11 exit plan.  A&P also announced, Sam Martin will remain as CEO.

President Bruce Both of UFCW Local 1500 has released a statement on Sam Martin's salary and bonus during bankruptcy.

UFCW President Joe Hansen was on the Bill Press show discussing: Walmart, Presidential Primaries & the political attack on workers around the country. Check it out on the UFCW Blog!

A 52,000 square foot Pennsylvania Pathmark, set to close within two months, has four potential supermarket retailers vying for the site. Hopefully they're union employers.

The Southampton Press has an update on a new King Kullen in Southampton.

Trader Joe's has finally signed the Fair Food Agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, agreeing to pay a penny more a pound for tomato pickers in Florida, which is speculated to be nearly a 50% increase in pay for farmers.

With Whole Foods on pace to open 27 new stores this year, on Tuesday they won approval to build their first store in Brooklyn at the Gowanus Canal.

Walmart is trying to open a neighborhood market in LA, a 33,000 square foot store would be the first 'neighborhood market' in LA, and is proposed to be opened below a multi-floor senior citizen apartment complex. The project is being met with opposition from small businesses throughout downtown LA. Check out more @HuffingtonPost.

Ahold (parent company of Stop & Shop) has bought the online retailer Bol.com for $470 million, in order to increase internet sales.

Ahold also had a huge fourth-quarter, announcing their fourth-quarter profit jumped 75% 

Britain's largest unions are threatening a strike during the Olympics.

American Rights at Work released a great report which reveals when employees come together, benefits go beyond the workplace.

In support of UFCW Local 5's negotiations, Local 5 members are dropping by stores asking consumers for support by signing pledge cards.

And finally if you hadn't heard, an over 15-year UFCW Local 1776 member and Diary Manager won a Grammy! Congratulations!

Friday Morning One Liners: Wakefern Targets NYC, Whole Foods' Meat Elevator, A&P 2Q

Report: Wakefern Targeting NYC Food Deserts



A&P reported their 2Q results and an update to their turnaround plan.

Sales for the second quarter were $1.9 billion versus $2.1 billion in last fiscal year's second quarter. Comparable store sales decreased 6.6 percent. For the second quarter, reported loss from continuing operations was $143 million versus last year's second quarter reported loss from continuing operations of $62 million. [Press Release] [Wall-Street Journal Report]

Yesterday, Activists against the proposed Wal-Mart in Brooklyn rallied at Borough Hall.

Sneak Peak @ Sayville's new Stop & Shop [Patch]

Whole Foods and their Meat Elevator has caused their customers to become aghast. Last week, a tipster sent The Gothamist a photo taken in a service elevator at the Union Square Whole Foods, where "cooked, prepared turkey breasts were being carted upstairs along side filthy garbage cans and employees with dirty dustbins."

Friday's News After Noon: RWDSU Takes Mott's Picket Line to Manufacturing Plant...

Some of the previous stories we posted have been removed, we apologize for the inconvenience. 

National Fruit Now Co-Packing Mott's Struck Product

Winchester, VA.-- RWDSU Local 220 is taking their picket line to National Fruit manufacturing plant to protest Mott's outsourcing and co-packing of applesauce due to slowed production in the Mott's Williamson, NY plant. Strikers and union members will be leafleting National Fruit production workers about the ongoing labor dispute at Mott's.

Walmart "Supporters" Paid Untraceable $100

A story in today's Chicago Reader reveals that at least one hundred pro-Walmart "supporters" in Chicago were paid $100 to come and protest on behalf of the retail giant building in their neighborhood in front of Chicago's City Council on Thursday, June 24.

Traffic Tops Concerns at Former Plitt Ford

Wainscott, NY-- Residents showed up in strong numbers to discuss plans for the former Plitt Ford property on Montauk Highway to possibly develop into a specialty supermarket such as a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or Wild by Nature. 

Costco's New Location Does Urban Right

Costco just opened a Queens warehouse club that demonstrates the potential of urban retailing done right.

Stop & Shop Objects to ShopRite Hearings

Wyckoff, N.J.-- Hearings on Inserra Supermarkets Inc.;s proposal to build a ShopRite at the site of the old A&P on Greenwood Avenue began Wednesday night over the objection of an attorney representing Stop & Shop. 

Wyoming Tribe's Beef Deal with Whole Foods Ends

DENVER-- A deal for the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming to sell organic, grass-fed beef to Whole Foods Market Inc. has fallen through.

Weekly One-Liners: News from the Week of June 6

 Due to Contract Negotiations, we'll be releasing the Morning Read twice a week until our Contract is settled with King Kullen, Stop and Shop and Pathmark.  Thank you.

Union workers at Kroger stores in Michigan were still working on Thursday despite their contract expiring. The workers, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 here, in a statement said they were fighting “concessionary demands from Kroger,” including defunding a trust account that pays for health benefits. [Supermarket News]

Supermarket Strike Looms

A Spokesperson for Queens Village-based Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union characterized contract negotiatons with the major area supermarket chains as "not going good," on contracts that will expire on Saturday, June 26.

Kroger Reaches Tentative Deal with Union

A Kroger spokesperson told Local 4 union employees will take a final vote on the contract next week. Workers will be getting a visit from a union representative before the vote. 

Stop & Shop's Parent, Ahold Profits Up 45 Percent in Q1 on Windfall

Royal Ahold NV, the operator of Stop & Shop and Giant grocery chains, said net profit rose 45 percent in the first quarter as costs stemming from the bankruptcy of its BI-LO subsidiary were less than feared. 

Mediation scheduled for UFCW 367, Macy's.

After negotiating for six months with no end in sight, union members voted to approve a strike last week. Macy's agreed to come to the table for mediation shortly thereafter. 

Walmart Eyes Growth in Russia

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has signaled its continued interest in establishing stores in Russia, albeit in  a characteristically unusual way. 

Rival Chains Secretly Fund Opposition to Walmart

A grocery chain with nine stores in the area had hired Saint Consulting Group to secretly run the antidevelopment campaign. Saint is a specialist at fighting proposed Walmarts, and it uses tactics it describes as "black arts".

Online grocer Peapod, a division of Ahold, is hosting its first community forum today in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood to address food deserts, large geographic areas that have no or distant mainstream grocery stores. 

Cub Foods Takes on Walmart

Cub Foods is taking on Walmart stores in a fight over the busy St.Paul-Midway shopping district.

Supervalu and Safeway Helped Bolster Anti-Walmart Protests. So What?

Recently, a WSJ investigation revealed that supposedly grassroots opposition to construction of some Walmart stores was funded and facilitated by operatives working for its grocery competitors, including Supervalu and Safeway.

Full investigation @ WSJ.

Walmart, Pullman Park  project rezonging vote delayed again.

CHICAGO, IL--The vote to rezone an area on the Far Sound side to make way for the city's second Walmart retail store was delayed for a second time.

Shoprite opens eighth Maryland location

The new store will be located in the Chesapeake Square Shopping Center, which is owned by principals of the Fedder Company and the Briarwood Group. 

Mill Valley's second Whole Foods Store to open

Whole Foods will debut its much-anticipated second Mill Valley store, a green open-air-style marketplace featuring locally grown products. Officials said they weren't certain, but Mill Valley is likely the smallest town to have two Whole Foods stores. 

Whole Foods Continues Distribution Deal with UNFI

Specialty food distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) will continue to be the primary distributor for Whole Foods Market, which accounted for approximately 33 percent of UNFI's sales last year, until 2010.

Upper West Side Neighbors Worry Fairway Cafe is Doomed

Fairway Cafe, a restaurant located within the landmakr grocery store on the Upper West Side, has yet to confirm rumors of its closure, but already a handful of neighbors have sprung into action. 

Syracuse Wegmans stores seeing produce from down on the farm--the Wegmans farm.

Northeasterners normally must wait until July for local ripe tomatoes, but some upstate New York Wegmans shoppers received theirs a lot earlier.

Union boost HS walkout-- 2,000+ kids plan protest

More than 2,400 students plan to walk out of school at noon today to protest the elimination of free MetroCards-- and leaders from the city's political wired transit and teachers unions will be there to cheer them on.

Thursday News After Noon.....Safeway Offers Union Buyouts, A New Store for King Kullen??

Image via Wikipedia

Safeway East to Offer Union Buyouts...
Safeway is meeting with union employees from its Eastern Division stores this week to discuss buyout offers for certain long-time employees, Supermarket News reported this morning.  Safeway is offering voluntary buyouts that would provide a lump-sum payment, in addition to severance, of between $35,000 and $50,000 to eligible employees.

King Kullen Real Estate: New Southampton Village Project, a New Home for King Kullen?
New development has "ideal real estate" for a supermarket, from the East Hampton Star:

As the plans look now, Pier One would move out of the building it occupies and into the Fortunoff building, which would be expanded from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet. Its former building would be expanded to anywhere from 24,000 to 30,000 square feet to accommodate a supermarket.


Mr. Gray said he had been in talks with Waldbaum’s but they had not moved forward. He said a smaller grocery operation such as Whole Foods, Citarella, or Food Emporium would be ideal for such a space. If King Kullen did move into the space behind the Sunoco station in Tuckahoe, he said it would be an ideal place for a Wild by Nature store, which is owned by the same company. He said Trader Joe’s, a discounted specialty grocery chain, would not be able to afford the rent at that site. He said he had been told that any market would need at least 30,000 square feet to consider the site, even though Mr. Murphree said the town’s intention was to have a 24,000 to 26,000-square-foot building there.

Columbia Athletics Teams Up with Fairway Market for Shopping Event in Plainview, Long Island
Fairway Market at Plainview, Long Island is hosting a shopping event to support the Columbia Lions on Wednesday, May 19.

Hannaford to take over former Tops site in Lake Placid:
The Hannaford Supermarkets company announced Wednesday that it has signed a lease agreement for a store in the former Tops supermarket site

Wal-Mart Store to pay up to $86M to settle unpaid wages lawsuit
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay up to $86 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it owes workers in California vacation pay and other unpaid wages, according to court filings on Tuesday.  Walmart will pay a minimum of $43 million and up to $86 million, plus the cost associated with a third party to calculate wages due to the workers.

Bristol Walmart workers arrested in connections with eight bomb threats
Bristol, Va. Walmart employees were arrested Tuesday and accused of calling in at least a dozen bomb threats to the store over the past week.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Project gets $60M Injection
A federal initiative that allows foreign investors to finance development projects in areas of high unemployment, according to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

The White House is calling for companies to stop marketing unhealthy foods to kids. [WSJ]
The recommendation is part of an 120-page report released Tuesday that outlines steps to fight the national epidemic. One in every three children ages 2-19 is overweight or obese, the report says. First Lady Michelle Obama has taken up childhood obesity as her signature cause.

UFCW Local 23 members rallied on Tuesday for good jobs in their community. This rally was all about showing solidarity and pride in being a member of their union--the UFCW.

Whole Foods is ahead of Earnings

USDA looks to reduce foodborne illnesses in poultry

UFCW: Arizona is Aiming to Punish Unions

Friday Morning One-Liners: A&P Losses Deepen....

A&P Losses Deepen; Marshall Launches Strategy
MONTVALE, N.J. — Work has already begun on Ron Marshall’s plan to revive A&P, although the chain’s struggles only intensified during his first months as the company’s chief executive officer.

More @ The Progressive Grocer: A&P’s Q4, Full-year Sales Dip, Loss Widens
SN: Strike Continues as Shaw’s Considers Outsourcing
Striking workers at Shaw’s distribution center here this week said the retailer is seeking to outsource its meat and deli operations to C&S Wholesale Grocers.

President of Shoprite Supermarkets Explains Appeal of Walmart Case
"Currently, the ShopRite of Ellenville employs 180 associates; these are union jobs with competitive wages and generous benefits — the same cannot be said of our competitor."

Walmart plans smaller version of Supercenters
Walmart is planning to open a smaller scale version of its successful Supercenter store format in the Los Angeles area

Walmart in Catskill gets break on tax bill
The Town Board has agreed to reduce the assessment on the Wal-Mart property by $1.67 million to $13.5 million, covering the years 2010 through 2012.

Wegmans Helps Honor Mom
In recognition of Mother’s Day, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is offering a range of events over the upcoming holiday weekend to enable kids to show their moms just how much they love them.

Whole Foods Market Opens New Flagship Store in Tarzana(CA)
New Store Offers Natural, Organic and Local Foods That Bring the Unique Flavors of Tarzana to Life

Civil Rights and Labor Organizations will boycott Arizona to protest unjust Immigration Law Washington, DC—Today, leading civil rights and labor organizations gathered at the headquarters of NCLR (National Council of La Raza) to call on people of conscience throughout the nation to join them in boycotting the state of Arizona.


Wal-Mart to Pay $27M in Waste Case
Wal-Mart Stores on Monday said it would pay $27 million as part of a settlement with environmental groups in California, which sued the retailer for improperly disposing of hazardous materials ranging from fertilizer to nail polish.

Guilford(CT) ‘rock pile’ site eyed by Costco
Since the economy has derailed plans for a shopping center at the site, called Guilford Commons, a Costco discount store and gas station may be built instead, town officials said this week.

And, CONGRATULATIONS TO LOCAL 371! Local 371 was successful in winning a hard card check yesterday at the Food Bazaar in Bridgeport,CT, with a unit of 166 employees.

Wednesday News...

UFCW 371 President Brian Petronella on negotiations with Stop & Shop "The proposal they gave us today is less than the proposal they gave us the last time," he said. "We're going backwards." More and an update in the Hartford Courant.

Last week UFCW Local 1459 and allies held an informational picket in order to draw attention to Stop & Shop's confrontational plan to use replacement workers if there is a strike.

Walmart Stores will pay $11.7 million in back wages and damages, and has agreed to provide relief including jobs, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced here Tuesday.

Yahoo! has partnered with Walmart in the retail chain's single-largest digital ad campaign that rolled out in mid-February and will continue throughout the year.

Whole Foods announced they're selling two Wild Oats stores, one in Colorado, one in Missouri. 

Philly.com is wondering if Acme's owners are shopping for a buyer.

Safeway, Inc. became the first U.S.-based retail grocery chain and manufacturer of private label merchandise to join The Sustainability Consortium, a science-based group of companies working to develop a more sustainable global supply chain.

You can now order from Fresh Direct on your iPhone, Fresh Direct is also planning on installing an Eco-Safe Ozone Disinfection System in its 350,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center.

Friday Lunch Time One Liners...New CEO for A&P

Image via Wikipedia

A&P Announces new CEO: The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. (A&P) has appointed Ron Marshall its president and CEO, effective Feb. 8.

Bloomberg News has more, Ron Marshall sat as the CEO of Borders before taking the A&P job.  Yucapia Investments, who holds a 27% ownership stake in A&P, and Aletheia Research & Management, out of Santa Monica, Calif.,  recently purchased 147 million shares of A&P in a series of purchases between Oct. 15 and Dec. 15, representing an investment of more than $136.5 million.  Aletheia, also last month, revealed it had bought a 10.8% stake in bookseller Barnes & Noble, another company in which Yucaipa has invested this year.

The InstoreMarketer.org gives a Field Report on A&P:
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. plans to scale back on a strategy which presented an array of short-term promotions that left shoppers "confused," its chairman recently told investors. The company had hoped to boost sales through a variety of programs that included both weekly and four-day sales, campaigns for its general loyalty program and distinct pet- and baby-related efforts, and a number of other promotions.

MY UFCW Blog: Whole Foods has a Bright Idea: Fat Tax for Employees.

ABC News wonders if this plan is fair.

Meanwhile John Mackey's pay was valued at $654K in 2009.

Supermarket News: Price Chopper here filed a lawsuit against Penn Traffic Co. this week alleging breach of contract after a bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Penn Traffic to Tops Friendly Markets, Williamsville, N.Y., according to reports.

More: Price Chopper Sues Penn Traffic for Breach of Contract.

Philadelphia-based ShopRite owner Jeff Brown was recognized during President Obama’s first-ever State of the Union address for the strides he has made in bringing supermarkets to impoverished urban areas.

Target & Safeway announce new Sustainable Seafood Initiatives.

Gristedes has told Supermarket News they're switching wholesalers, from White Rose to Wakefern.

Union Spotlights Green Cleaning:
Green cleaning standards, including safer cleaning products, have become a key focus of ongoing negotiations over labor contracts for 650 supermarket janitors working at Save Mart and Safeway stores in Northern California.

The Penn Traffic sale to Tops was approved, the UFCW released a statement on what the sale means for the thousands of Penn Traffic workers: "Thousands of UFCW members are hopeful that today's sale will give them the opportunity to maintain their jobs, their health benefits and pensions. Rebuilding this company is essential to the economic security of our communities and will require a strong partnership between Tops Market and workers."

More:

Buffalo News

Wellsboro Gazette: Said Tops Public Relations Manager Kate McKenna, “Although I cannot tell you which stores will be kept open, I can say that it is Tops’ intention to retain as many of the stores and jobs as possible. Right now, we are evaluating all 79 stores. Our decision as to which to keep open and which to close will also be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission before any announcement can be made.”

Crain's NY: Labor-law violations seen costly for New York City workers.
Employer violations of minimum wage, overtime and other labor laws across an array of industries costs more than 317,000 low-wage workers in the city $18.4 million per week, according to a new study released Thursday.

FRESH



Recently two Bronx retailers, Foodtown & Western Beef submitted questionnaires that in order to receive NYC incentives from the recently passed Food Retail Expansion to Support Health bill (or F.R.E.S.H.), the city has posted them on the NYC FRESH website,
Western Beef's Questionnaire [pdf]
Foodtown Questionnaire [pdf]


Seeking Alpha looks at the top 6 trends for Supermarkets in 2010.

Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday it is realigning its Walmart US organization to leverage its scale and move closer to the customer, effective Monday.

2,500 Foxwoods dealers now have a tentative contract with the UAW.

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.