Tobacco Documents Online

included_ The federal programs benefiting tobacco farmers should also be held accountable, according to the editors, as well as the Agriculture Department and Congress itself. What's really at the heart of the matter for legislators, the editors conclude, is not doing the best thing, but doing the best thing for the legislators. "Business Roundup: Food Lion Irks Cigarette Makers With Employee Smoking Ban" Washington Times (Q7/rt3/94) P. B7 In Raleigh, N.C., tobacco industry officia[s are urging growers to protest the Food Lion supermarket chain's decision to ban employee smoking at all company buildings effective September 1. Lisa Eddington, managing director for the Tobacco Growers Information Committee, says that "we're hoping the tobacco growers and supporters who shop at Food Lion will make themselves known." A Food Lion memo, which Eddington says was provided to her office anonymously, read as follows: "Effective September 1, 1994, it shall be the policy of Food Lion to prohibit employee smoking at all locations, including stores, distribution centers and the office." The memo was signed by Gene McKinley, Food Lion vice president of human resources. Spokesman Mike Mozingo was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon. "Because Food Lion is based and founded in North Carolina, we feel this sends the wrong message to other corporations across the country because they're attacking tobacco in a tobacco state," said Eddington, who stopped short of calling the action a boycott. "That's up to the consumer," -she said. "We're trying to make sure growers are informed." "Company News: American Brands to Sell Do[[on & Aitchison" The New York Times (7/13/94) P.D3 (Bloomberg Business News) American Brands Inc. said yesterday that it would sell Dollond & Aitchison Group P.L.C. to a management group led by CVC Capital Partners Ltd. for $146 million. Dolland & Aitchison, a unit of American Brands' Gallaher Ltd. group of companies, is the largest retail optical group in England and, with its operations in Italy, Spain and Ireland, is the second largest in the world. The agreement also includes the Keeler companies, which make optical instruments. American Brands said the sale was another step in its restructuring. Assuming completion of the sale and the pending sale of the American Tobacco Company, American Brands will have divested itself of $3.5 billion in operations since 1987. Related Story: The Wall Street Journal, P.B3. I