For the third year in a row, food stocks in 1997 held their own against the general market. Industry analysts said they attribute the stocks' positive performance to several factors, including strong earnings results, merger activities and various combinations of outside factors.
The SN Composite Index of 46 retailers and wholesalers showed food industry stocks outperforming the general market, rising 50.2% compared with an increase of 31% in the Standard & Poor's 500 and a 22.6%
