Stop & Shop Cos. has begun negotiations...

Stop & Shop Cos. has begun negotiations with several parties interested in acquiring the retail chain, the company said. Stop & Shop, which is fighting a $1-billion hostile takeover attempt, declined to name the parties. The company operates 113 Stop & Shop supermarkets and 169 Bradlees discount department stores. Last month, Dart Group Corp. of Landover, Md., launched a $1.03-billion tender offer to gain control of the Boston-based company.