FTC EXTENDS GROCERY-SALE RULING

The Federal Trade Commission has extended its review process of Schnucks Markets' bid to buy 60 National Super Stores facilities because it will take longer than was originally anticipated.

"The FTC said it needed more time," Schnucks spokeswoman Marie A. Casey said.

Casey, of Casey Communications Inc., said the review process has been extended because of a backlog in acquisitions under review by the FTC and the absence, due to personal reasons, of the FTC's lead staff person assigned to the Schnucks-National review.

A date for FTC approval hasn't been set.

Last month, when Schnucks proposed buying the National stores, an FTC decision was expected by mid-February, Casey said.

Craig D. Schnuck, chairman and chief executive of Schnucks Markets, said he was eager to obtain FTC approval "so we can move forward in planning and staffing our new stores."

Jim Sturm will be glad to see a decision too. Sturm is manager of the Cape Girardeau National Del Farms store, 121 S. Sprigg.

"Employees here are eager to know something," Sturm said. "Our jobs are at stake." The 36,000-square-foot supermarket is one of those included in the Schnucks-National proposal, which involves National stores owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd., a Toronto company and parent company of National Super Stores.

Loblaw is planning to sell its 60 National stores in its St. Louis division to Schnucks. Among the stores Schnucks would buy are 53 in the St. Louis metropolitan area plus stores in Cape Girardeau, Rolla, Hannibal, Carbondale, Ill., Springfield, Ill., and Litchfield, Ill.

National's 29-store New Orleans division would be purchased by Schwegmann's Giant Super Markets Inc., a New Orleans-based family-owned chain of 18 stores.

Sturm said he would like to see the Cape Girardeau store remain at its present site. "We have built up a good customer base here," he said. "A lot of people depend on this store."

Meanwhile, Schnucks is honoring National's request not to contact National employees until 15 days after the FTC grants preliminary approval. Following the 15-day waiting period, employees would be informed of times and places to apply for positions with Schnucks

"Schnucks will interview all National employees applying for positions," Casey said.

The FTC must approve any grocery industry combination valued at more than $15 million. Schnucks officials expect the FTC to require National to sell some stores to other companies.

Earlier this month, Schnucks officials met with Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and his staff and a representative of the Illinois attorney's general office to present information previously provided to the FTC. The attorneys' generals offices were concerned about competition and service following the acquisition.

Schnucks representatives said the move would benefit consumers with lower prices and would enable Schnucks to serve more customers in more neighborhoods.

Even with the purchase of National, Schnucks would continue to be challenged by more than 200 other supermarkets, 120 discount chain stores, seven membership clubs stores, three combined grocery-discount chain super centers, and more than 100 drugstores and 300 specialty food stores, Schnuck said.