Attitudes: Retailers

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday that the proportion of its associates who now have health care coverage through its own new associate-tailored plans for 2008 or other sources has increased to 92.7 percent from 90.4 percent, and the number of uninsured associates decreased by more than 20 percent, compared to a year ago. Just over 50 percent are insured through Wal-Mart's plan, the company said.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Retailers and manufacturers looking to see more green should increase marketing to those shoppers who also see green, according to a new study by Catalina Marketing.

MIAMI - Retailers suspect that their own employees are the main source of retail shrink, according to a new Retail Systems Research (RSR) Benchmark report.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - Consumers across the nation and the world say "good value" is the most important factor in determining where they'll spend their grocery dollars, according to a new study released yesterday by The Nielsen Co. here.

WASHINGTON -- The top three holiday television advertisements this year come from Target, Wal-Mart, and Macy's, according to a survey conducted for the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA) by BIGresearch. Retailers rounding out consumers' top 10 favorite holiday TV ads include Best Buy, Sears, Kohl's, Kmart, JCPenney, Publix, and Meijer.

CHICAGO -- As natural and organic foods continue to grow in popularity, but they are growing in different ways for different consumers research by foodservice consultants Technomic based here found that women place significantly more importance on being able to select from a wide variety of natural, organic and sustainable food offerings when shopping for food or dining out - although overall interest was strong for both men and women.

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa. -- The popularity of local foods among consumers has been touted in the media and proclaimed by supermarkets in the past year. But new research from the Natural Marketing Institute here suggests that artisanal foods - or those products that are seen as unique or exclusive -- may be an even stronger draw.

CHICAGO -- As natural and organic foods continue to grow in popularity, but they are growing in different ways for different consumers research by foodservice consultants Technomic based here found that women place significantly more importance on being able to select from a wide variety of natural, organic and sustainable food offerings when shopping for food or dining out - although overall interest was strong for both men and women.