Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods Inc. is using its network to help emerging brands expand distribution with UNFI’s customer base to better reach North American consumers.

CTown Supermarkets has opened a new location in New Haven, Conn., under the collaborative banner The Meat King by CTown.

Despite record-setting reserves and growing crises in higher education, social services and state agency staffing, the legislature’s Appropriations Committee is expected to recommend lean spending for the next two fiscal years.

That said, the CPI for other food products remained elevated. Cereals and bakery rose 0.6% in the same time frame, while the nonalcoholic beverage category ticked up 0.2%. The index for the “other food at home” category edged 0.4% higher.