Ahold

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has won accolades for working with diverse and women-owned businesses, the supermarket operator said Wednesday.

Ahold, which owns the Stop & Shop, Giant-Carlisle and Giant-Landover supermarket banners and the Peapod online grocery service, said Professional Woman's Magazine had named it among the "Top Supplier Diversity Programs for Women" for 2013. The magazine has ranked companies in this way for 14 years.

CHICAGO — Online grocer Peapod is partnering with Chicago's Shedd Aquarium to mark National Seafood Month and promote sustainable seafood.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets — collectively known as Giant-Carlisle — will sponsor drug take-back events at more than three dozen stores next weekend.

The Ahold USA-owned supermarket banner said customers could bring expired and unwanted drugs to 42 stores on Oct. 26; 40 of the stores are in Pennsylvania, and two are in Virginia.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands — Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold has bought back more than a quarter of the shares it intends to as part of a share-repurchase program announced earlier this year.

The company said Monday that it had bought back 2.23 million for $38.8 million. The purchases are part of the $678 million buyback program announced in February and increased by $2.03 billion in June.

The total amount repurchased so far is 42.8 million shares, for a total price of $711.9 million.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., presented its first-ever Giant Food NextGen Award for Children's Cancer Research this week, created for young investigators committed to pursuing a long-term career in pediatric oncology research.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores has opened its first small pharmacy in a Valley Forge, Pa., retirement community, the supermarket chain said.

The Carlisle, Pa.-based supermarket banner, owned by Ahold USA, opened the pharmacy at the Shannondell, a nationally recognized continuing care community.

"This pharmacy offers the residents a selection of convenience items and top-quality pharmacy service they have come to appreciate at the larger Giant Food Stores located across the street, right within their own community."

LANDOVER, Md. — USO's division for the nation's capital has named supermarket chain Giant Food of Landover, Md., to its USO-Metro 2013 Circle of the Stars for an annual networking event, the chain said.

CHICAGO — Peapod is offering customers in the Chicago area organic produce from a local, indoor urban farming company, shortly after its announcement of a new pickup location near the city.

The online grocer said its Chicagoland customers would be able to buy salad mixes, arugula, basil, mint and others from Farmedhere. Farmedhere uses aquaponic growing techniques that combine hydroponics with aquaculture.