Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

Grand Jury Impaneled in Kmart Investigation
NEW YORK - The U.S. Attorney's Office has impaneled a federal grand jury in Detroit and more than 20 subpoenas have been issued for witnesses as part of a probe into bankrupt Kmart Corp., the Detroit News reported on Sunday.
Penn Traffic Discovers Employee Fraud in its Bakery
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Penn Traffic Co. has said it discovered several days ago that an employee at its Penny Curtiss bakery unit made false accounting entries by overstating inventory, which will cause the company to restate its financial statements for the past three years, Dow Jones news wire reports.

Mexican Chain Gigante Clashes with California City

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Mexican grocery chain Gigante is facing resistance from city officials in Anaheim, Calif., who object to a proposed store in Orange County because of zoning concerns and the fact that it is "too Hispanic for the location," The Orange County Register reports.
PMA to Host Audioconference on Retail Organics Rules

NEWARK, Del. - On Sept. 12, the Produce Marketing Association will present a members-only audioconference to provide retailers with last-minute advice and guidance regarding regulations for the soon-to-be mandatory U.S. national organics standards.
Retailers Consider Bailing Out of Medicaid Programs

NEW YORK - No. 1 drug chain Walgreen Co. on Thursday became the latest retailer to say it may have to pull out of a state Medicaid program because of cutbacks in reimbursements, Reuters reports.
USDA Considers New Safety Measures for Meat Plants

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Agriculture Department, trying to repair its image after the second-largest recall in history, is considering new regulations that would require meat companies to implement more food safety safeguards, Reuters reports.
UK Retailers Lose Court Battle to Sell Levi Jeans at Cut-rate Prices

LONDON - A High Court judge ruled today that Tesco has no right to import Levi's jeans from outside Europe and sell them at cut-rate prices, The Associated Press reports.
Romaine Lettuce, Bacteria Linked

WASHINGTON - Consumers nationwide are being warned to avoid romaine lettuce made by Spokane Produce following an E. coli outbreak apparently caused by contaminated lettuce.
Rayovac, Varta to Combine Consumer Battery Business

MADISON, Wisc. - Rayovac Corp. and Varta AG said today they have signed an agreement to combine Varta's global consumer battery business with Rayovac.
German Union Strikes at Wal-Mart Stores in Germany

FRANKFURT, Germany - Germany's retail workers' union on Friday began a two-day strike at several dozen Wal-Mart stores in an attempt to make the retailer join Germany's regional wage bargaining system, The Associated Press reports.

Grand Jury Impaneled in Kmart Investigation

Penn Traffic Discovers Employee Fraud in its Bakery

Mexican Chain Gigante Clashes with California City

PMA to Host Audioconference on Retail Organics Rules

Retailers Consider Bailing Out of Medicaid Programs

USDA Considers New Safety Measures for Meat Plants

UK Retailers Lose Court Battle to Sell Levi Jeans at Cut-rate Prices

Romaine Lettuce, Bacteria Linked

Rayovac, Varta to Combine Consumer Battery Business

German Union Strikes at Wal-Mart Stores in Germany