A reward for information leading to conviction of a gang of shop raiders has been doubled to £10,000 by Leeds Co-op, Yorkshire Co-op, Jacksons Stores and T&S Stores. Nield Group, which claims to be the biggest independent wholesale distributor and cash and carry of toiletries, household, health and beauty products, has acquired Mitcham-based Wallace Wholesale. The Scottish Retail Consortium has called on the Scottish parliament to fund a rate relief scheme for small businesses. Under current proposals, retailers would fund a scheme through a levy of 1.3p a pound on rate payments. Associated Co-operative Creameries has taken top spot in a business league table for the north east based on turnover, compiled by The Journal in Newcastle. Teams from Birds Eye Wall's took the first three places in the annual National Grocers' Benevolent Fund's Windermere Row. The event raised £40,000. The National Trust will launch a new quality food label as part of its "blueprint for farming" to be published in the summer. National Trust branded products will be sold at a series of new farm shops attached to Trust properties. Dundee based c-store multiple Morning, Noon & Night has pledged to help raise £50,000 for children's charity Whizz Kidz. South African Breweries has acquired three Chinese breweries through its joint venture company CRE Beverage. The Co-operative Group has pledged to significantly increase the amount of business it conducts with Welsh suppliers. US consumer products giant Sara Lee has warned that fiscal 2002 profit will fall short of expectations. Asda has teamed up with children's charity NCH to launch a national campaign against bullying. Unilever has announced plans to sell its Mazola cooking oil business and a series of other US food and fabric care brands. Cadbury Schweppes has warned US regulators that PepsiCo's proposed $13.3bn acquisition of Quaker Oats would "unacceptably increase [Pepsi's] distribution muscle". Galtee Meats, a division of the Dairygold Co-operative, has bought Irish meat processor Roscrea from Glanbia. Dutch retail giant Ahold will offer electronic banking services to customers at its US supermarkets through a partnership with the US division of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The majority of staff at Guinness Ireland's Dundalk plant have accepted redundancy packages proposed by management. The plant will close at the end of next month. Warrington based contract packaging group Grange has opened a 30,000 sq ft facility at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. {{NEWS }}

Topics