Strategy

The Blackstone Group enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Foods Group Inc., a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded food products in the United States and Canada, for approximately $2.16 billion in cash.

webMethods Inc., a business integration and optimization software company, today introduced webMethods Optimize for SAP, a new business activity monitoring solution for Order-to-Cash and other SAP processes.

Sugar processor Imperial Sugar Co. names John C. Sheptor as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Zilliant, a provider of price optimization and management software, and Deloitte Consulting LLP, a professional services firms, form a strategic alliance to provide total price management software and services.

Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc., a specialty coffee roaster and marketer, continues its grocery expansion in New England with the availability of its fresh, deep-roasted coffee within Stop & Shop Supermarkets, a division of Royal Ahold.

Fossil Inc. appointed Elaine Agather, chairman and chief executive officer of Chase - Dallas, to its Board of Directors, effective February 12, 2007.

Saddle Creek Transportation Inc. offers additional inbound and outbound capacity for shipments through Saddle Creek Transportation Services, a newly formed division.

SmartOps Corporation announces that its Multistage Inventory Planning and Optimization (MIPO) solution is endorsed by SAP AG. SAP-endorsed business solutions are complementary to SAP software offerings, are developed in accordance with SAP development guidelines, and provide additional choices and flexibility for businesses running SAP software.