Heinz may axe up to 165 staff at its Grimsby frozen food plant. The company is currently in talks with union bosses to minimise job losses. Wal-Mart is set to usurp oil conglomerate ExxonMobil as the world's biggest corporation, earning more than £150bn this year. William Morrison Supermarkets has announced that md John Dowd will be absent from the business for "a number of months" following major surgery. Sainsbury's has launched its Equipment for Schools collection scheme, in which Reward Card points can be exchanged for school items. Safeway has raised more than £20,000 for animal welfare in a promotion highlighting the RSPCA's Freedom Food labelling scheme. Marks & Spencer has acquired sites for three neighbourhood food stores of 17,000-19,000sq ft at Fulham, North Finchley and Teddington. Centura Foods has hired Tudor Rose International to handle exports of its brands, including Sharwood's and Bisto, in southern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Channel Island food retailer Le Riche Group posted an 11.2% increase in like-for-like sales in the 12 weeks to December 29 2001, including a 9% rise in Marks and Spencer food sales. Kenhurst Fresh and Frozen Foods of Hitchin has joined buying group Sterling Supergroup. The Association of Convenience Stores is offering independent retailers a £50 discount on day tickets to its March 19 annual conference at the NEC. Wal-Mart Stores has named Mario Pilozzi as head of retail operations for its Canada division. Pilozzi was previously chief operating officer of the Canadian unit. Sainsbury aims to create 10,000 full- and part- time jobs in a three-year refurbishment programme covering each of its British stores. The Food Standards Agency has recalled batches of pistachio nuts imported from Iran after a survey revealed high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in 10% of samples. Tate & Lyle's plans to sell US subsidiary Western Sugar to the Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Co-op have collapsed because the group failed to raise sufficient funds. Louis Camilleri is to replace Geoffrey Bible as president and chief executive of Philip Morris from April 25. Bible will continue as chairman until he retires in August. Londis has clinched a deal with YP Electronics to supply a new SPRINT EPoS system which will improve product ordering and margin control. News on the appointment of Martin Pinner as New World brands manager of drinks firm Waverley Group last week was illustrated with a picture of Italian brands manager Jeremy Dunn. Quality Meat Scotland has launched a quality assurance scheme for the transport of cattle, pigs and lambs, in conjunction with Scottish livestock hauliers. Littlewoods has launched a new Hope Street scratchcard game to raise money for the Liz Dawn Breast Cancer appeal. Waitrose Food and Home store in Southend has won the national Golden Service Award for the best cleaned retail premises. The awards are sponsored by cleaning giant Kimberley-Clark. {{NEWS }}

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