Target, Inc.

The troubles of toy category killers may be a break for supermarket operators -- if they play the game well.

With everybody trying to get ethnic at retail, supermarkets have to fight harder than ever to stake their claim.

MELBOURNE -- Australian megaretailer Coles Myer Ltd. has hired a onetime Kmart executive from the United States, Tom Lemke, to further develop its marketing and customer loyalty programs, according to published reports.

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart met securities analysts¿ expectations for December same-store sales yesterday, reporting a 3 percent rise in comps for the all-important holiday closer.

In the tradition of the late, great Al Lees, two independent-retailing experts discuss what the new year is likely to bring.

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Americans bought $62.2 billion worth of housewares at retail in 2003, according to the "2004 State-of-the-Industry Report" from the International Housewares Association (IHA). U.S. households spent an average of $578 each on housewares, a higher amount than that spent on fruits and vegetables ($563) or dairy products ($335).

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it would begin matching up to $1 million in donations from Salvation Army kettles at its stores.

MINNEAPOLIS - Target Corp. reported yesterday a 78 percent jump in its third-quarter profit, thanks in part to the sale of its Mervyn's department store chain and an 11 percent increase in revenues.