Content about Company Affiliates

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant-Carlisle has opened its 100th gas station, the supermarket chain said.

Giant-Carlisle, officially known as Giant Food Stores and owned by Ahold, said the gas station opened at a store in Souderton, Pa. The chain offers a loyalty program, Gas Extra Rewards, that provides discounts on gas when people shop at the supermarket's front end and pharmacy.

PHILADELPHIA — The Emerson Group last weekend ‪announced that it had added three new partners to the company, naming, Clark Tyndall, Sue Smith and Brian Schaefer to Emerson's partner group.

‪Tyndall has been with Emerson for 10 years, with key contributions has to Emerson's Walmart, Sam’s Club and dollar store businesses, and is credited within the organization as having played a key role in developing and growing Emerson's private brand business model. ‬

MELVILLE, N.Y. – The Hain Celestial Group, a natural and organic products company, announced Monday the closing of the acquisition of Premier Food's portfolio of packaged grocery brands and its Histon manufacturing based in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

"This acquisition furthers our goal to expand in the United Kingdom, and positions the newly expanded Hain Daniels business in the top 40 of all food and beverage suppliers in the U.K.," said Irwin Simon, founder, president and CEO of Hain Celestial.

NEW YORK — Cerberus Capital Management, which owns Albertsons LLC, may be looking to reunite the stores as it has reportedly emerged as a possible suitor to acquire all or part of Supervalu, according to published reports. 

Cerberus is reportedly seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks and is looking at investing equity of $800 million to $900 million, a person familiar with the matter reportedly said, although the source cautioned that the figures could change, according to reports.

ZUSA, Calif. and CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Physicians Formula and Markwins International announced on Thursday that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Markwins will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Physicians Formula for $4.90 per share in cash, or approximately $74.9 million.

NEW YORK — Online grocery retailer Peapod will set up three sites in Chicago where people can pick up groceries they've ordered, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune reported Monday that Ahold-owned Peapod would open three locations in the Chicago suburbs of Palatine, Ill., Schaumburg, Ill., and Deerfield, Ill.

The reports follow closely an Aug. 28 announcement by Peapod that it would allow customers in the Boston area to pick up groceries at a local Stop & Shop store, another banner owned by Ahold.

BOSTON — The future North American grocery business of Kraft Foods will deliver steady and profitable top-line growth, consistent bottom-line growth and a superior dividend payout, according to the business's future executive team.

DENVER, Colo. —Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has launched a pilot program offering patients mobile and online appointment-scheduling services through consumer healthcare application iTriage.

The scheduling functionality now is available in both the Chicago and Denver markets.

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has named a new president.

Gary Kadlec has been appointed president of Diplomat, reporting to the specialty pharmacy provider CEO's Philip Hagerman. As president, Kadlec will support and drive the sales, clinical, managed care, new business and operations teams at the company. Prior to joining Diplomat, Kadlec was president and CEO of ExcelleRx, an Omnicare company.

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and HACKENSACK, N.J. — Retail-based clinic operator MinuteClinic, which is owned by CVS Caremark, is partnering with Hackensack University Health Network, the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient health services in New Jersey, in a clinical affiliation that expands access to healthcare services in northeast New Jersey.

PLANO, Texas — PepsiCo is expanding one of the flagship brands from its Frito-Lay division.

The company has introduced the Ruffles Ultimate line, which includes chips that feature ridges twice the size and depth of the ridges in original Ruffles potato chips, as well as dips that are made with chunks of real bacon or real beef and cheese to provide the "ultimate" snacking experience, the company said.