Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc. has expanded its line of prepared foods to include several oven-ready, family-sized options aimed at working families.

Union Bankshares Corp. is one step away from merging with Richmond-based First Market Bank and creating the largest bank based in Virginia. The Bowling Green-based holding company said yesterday that it has received shareholder approval for its acquisition of the private chain of banks mostly owned by the Ukrop family and Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc.

A nickel at a time adds up to real money if enough people get involved—more than $40,000 for local food banks from Ukrop’s customers and Supervalu. By using 400,571 of their own bags at Ukrop’s stores during the summer months and donating their nickel discount to food banks, customers created a total bag credit donation of $20,028. Supervalu matched the first $20,000 in donations.

The Central Virginia University of Kentucky Alumni Club will partner with Ukrop’s Super Markets on Saturday to collect outdated, expired and unused medications, prescription and over-the-counter, for proper disposal. The alumni club will have representatives at the Ukrop’s stores on John Rolfe Parkway in Henrico County and at Chesterfield Towne Center in Chesterfield County from 8 a.m. to noon, distributing information about the environmental and health dangers of improper disposal of medications.

Recipe for marketing fun: Take one mammoth Cheddar cheese, 325 pounds. Add one Wisconsin-born artist. Garnish with white-and-black Holstein cow-patterned overalls (tail attached) and Cheese Head top hat (with sparkling highlights).

Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc. has decided to close its only Roanoke store after acknowledging late last year that it was having problems gaining a foothold. Closing the store Oct. 24 comes amid speculation that the family-owned chain is for sale. “We wished it had worked out differently. It’s painful for many reasons,“ Robert S. Ukrop, the chain’s chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement yesterday.

Ukrop’s, which has talked recently with potential buyers, closed one of its two Williamsburg markets earlier this year. The company opened its Roanoke store in 2007.

Health-care providers have preregistered more than 1,000 sites with the Virginia Health Department that could serve as locations for providing swine-flu shots. “I was expecting to get a large number. I didn’t expect it to hit this quickly,“ said James Farrell, director of the Health Department’s immunization division. Preregistration began Aug. 11 and continues. Health-care providers are able to fill out a form online indicating interest in providing an H1N1 vaccination site.

Health-care providers have preregistered more than 1,000 sites with the Virginia Health Department that could serve as locations for providing swine-flu shots. “I was expecting to get a large number. I didn’t expect it to hit this quickly,“ said James Farrell, director of the Health Department’s immunization division. Preregistration began Aug. 11 and continues. Health-care providers are able to fill out a form online indicating interest in providing an H1N1 vaccination site.

Supermarket News reports that an unnamed private equity group has outbid Harris Teeter to buy Ukrop’s and is in negotiations with the grocer.

First Market Bank, a private chain of banks mostly owned by the Ukrop family and Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc., is moving toward its merger later this year with Bowling Green-based Union Bankshares Corp. “There are a zillion reasons why a bank sells out,“ said Kent Engelke, chief economic strategist at Capitol Securities Management in Richmond.

David J. Fairchild figured he would follow his father into the family insurance business. But that didn’t happen. His father died early, and the business was sold. “I never thought about being a banker,“ said Fairchild.

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Twenty students from 12 local high schools recently were awarded $1,500 scholarships from the Ukrop’s Education Foundation. The additions mean 140 students will receive Ukrop’s scholarships worth a total of $210,000 during the 2009-2010 academic year. Scholarships are renewable for four years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, as long as the student maintains an acceptable grade-point average.

Virginia Commonwealth University plans to renovate the old Ukrop’s Super Markets building on Grace Street for use as classroom space and for storage of little-used library materials. An amendment to VCU’s six-year capital plan was approved yesterday by the finance, investment and property committee of the board of visitors. The plan is expected to be approved today by the full board when it meets to set tuition rates for the next academic year.