11.   Supermarkets are concerned about the public reaction to BST, which some chains said has generated the most calls and letters of any food issue.

12.   The chains also say that the buyers and managers make the final decisions about which books are displayed.

13.   The Cincinnati-based chain said it has not received any complaints of illness related to the product.

14.   The bookstore chains say they rolled back their discounts because of rising costs, slowing growth rates and the wisdom of experience.

15.   The department store chain said its sales at stores open at least a year declined moderately during the holiday from a year ago.

16.   The discount chain said it would drop the supplier and pull the rainwear from its shelves if the charges are true.

17.   The coffeehouse chain said no.

18.   The Dallas-based chain said it received two unsolicited bids to buy the company and hired investment firm Montgomery Securities to help it evaluate the offers.

19.   The discount chain said it would drop the supplier if the charges are true.

20.   The grocery store chain said a marketing program reduced its gross margins while boosting sales at stores open at least a year.