Johnson Foods

Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, a fast-growing New York firm, plans to take its first dip into the yogurt business by acquiring Heidi's Frogen Yozurt Shoppes of Laguna Hills. A preliminary agreement announced Tuesday would add about 100 Heidi's yogurt shops to Steve's expanding empire of more than 400 mostly franchised ice-cream parlors--including the Swensen's Ice Cream chain. The acquisition will introduce Steve's to the takeout, frozen yogurt industry, which generated about $56 million last year.

Jimmy Johnson, the Miami Dolphins' new coach, joked with his players during a recent mini-camp, and even had a barbecue with coaches, players and front-office personnel at the end of last week's workouts. Mr. Nice Guy? Well. . . . "Our guys always understand they can speak freely," Johnson told the Miami Herald. "That doesn't mean I'm going to listen. I'll listen to their opinions, but we're still going to go back and do it the way I want it done. "This is not a democracy."

Jimmy Johnson, the Miami Dolphins' new coach, joked with his players during a recent mini-camp, and even had a barbecue with coaches, players and front-office personnel at the end of last week's workouts. Mr. Nice Guy? Well. . . . "Our guys always understand they can speak freely," Johnson told the Miami Herald. "That doesn't mean I'm going to listen. I'll listen to their opinions, but we're still going to go back and do it the way I want it done. "This is not a democracy."

Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, a fast-growing New York firm, plans to take its first dip into the yogurt business by acquiring Heidi's Frogen Yozurt Shoppes of Laguna Hills. A preliminary agreement announced Tuesday would add about 100 Heidi's yogurt shops to Steve's expanding empire of more than 400 mostly franchised ice-cream parlors--including the Swensen's Ice Cream chain. The acquisition will introduce Steve's to the takeout, frozen yogurt industry, which generated about $56 million last year.

The cash purchase by IC Industries of Chicago will complement the company's specialty food products marketed by Pet Inc., said IC Chairman William J. Johnson. Ogden Foods, a division of Ogden Corp., sells soups, sauces and other items under the Progresso, Hain, Hollywood and Las Palmas brands. Sales in 1986 are estimated at $276 million. Pet Inc. was acquired by IC Industries in 1978 and had 1985 sales of $887 million.

Earnings from big companies such as Intel Corp. and Pfizer Inc., as well as key inflation reports, will help determine whether U.S. stocks will continue to skid lower or bounce back this week. Today kicks off one of the heaviest weeks of the quarterly earnings season. Some of the other companies slated to report include General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., Internet companies EBay Inc. and Yahoo Inc., financial heavyweight Merrill Lynch & Co. and soft-drink giant Coca-Cola Co.

The uncertainties that have plagued Wall Street and overshadowed a strong earnings season probably will continue this week, as investors wrestle with high oil prices, the upcoming Iraqi elections and ongoing concerns about interest rates and inflation. Though earnings have been strong -- analysts at Thomson First Call say actual earnings as well as estimates for companies yet to report show a 16.5% growth rate -- the markets suffered their third straight week of declines last week.