Safeway stock price rises on acquisition speculation

Genuardi's parent company Safeway saw its stock rise 7.5% last week, its largest one-week rally since 2009, on speculation of a possible acquisition. With nearly 1,700 stores, Safeway is one of the country's largest supermarket operators.

The acquisition talk was triggered by Safeway's adoption of a vesting acceleration that may require executives to remain with the company if it's bought in order to receive their fully vested payout. A JPMorgan Chase analyst also pointed to share buybacks and the promotion of Safeway's CFO as evidence of a potential "corporate action."

A&P emerges from bankruptcy as private company

In a statement today, A&P said it emerged from bankruptcy as a private company, having completed a court-approved financial restructuring. It had filed for bankruptcy in December 2010. The company said that JPMorgan Chase and Credit Suisse arranged for $645 million in exit financing.

A&P also said that it assembled a new management team, refurbished stores and concentrated them near core markets, negotiated a new agreement with its main supplier and made necessary changes to its collective bargaining contracts with unions.

A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) operates under the names A&P, Super Fresh, Pathmark and Food Emporium.