Attitudes: Retailers

DAYTON, Ohio - Seventy-three percent of 113 top-tier executives queried at U.S. companies with revenues exceeding $500 million revealed that the number of decisions they make is on the rise. At the same time, 54 percent reported that the amount of data is at least doubling, and 55 percent say there is less time to make decisions.

CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. increased its lead over Safeway Inc. in the 2002 Power Rankings, a key performance survey that examines how retailers and manufacturers rate each other in areas that are most important to their ongoing relationships, such as strategy, service and profitability.

WASHINGTON - Retailers have a lot on their minds these days with an uncertain holiday season before them. Their concern is evident in the latest Retail Executive Opinion Survey, a new monthly index by the National Retail Federation and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd., which shows slightly weaker results for October.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Some 55 percent of Americans have tried organic foods and 87 percent of regular organics buyers rate them as being of higher quality. Those are the findings of a just-released nationwide survey commissioned by Whole Foods Market, a natural and organic foods supermarket chain based here.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons on Wednesday unveiled "Preferred Customer" loyalty cards at its 183 Northern California supermarkets, becoming the last major grocery chain in the state to embrace the controversial membership club program, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

ROSWELL, Ga. - Dirty-looking grocery stores and fast food restaurants were big turn-offs to consumers considering whether or not to patronize a particular establishment, according to a new national survey.

LEEDS, West Yorkshire, U.K. - Wal-Mart-owned Asda on Thursday unveiled new research by NOP that suggests plastic cards are failing to keep customers loyal.

LOS ANGELES - New research by ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU Company, shows that organic food shoppers are extremely loyal to the category, while non-buyers have virtually no interest in organic products. Both groups likely need more education on the topic.