Target, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS - Target Corp., based here, has reached definitive agreements to sell its Mervyn's department store division to an investment consortium for an aggregate consideration of approximately $1.65 billion in cash.

MINNEAPOLIS - Target Corp. has released figures showing that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended July 3 increased 8.1 percent to $4.471 billion, from $4.135 billion, for the five-week period ended July 5, 2003.

A marketplace roiling with competition will make the site selection game more complex than ever -- and those retailers that play it smarter will get first dibs on the best locations.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has appointed Karen Stuckey s.v.p. of product development for Wal-Mart Stores, USA, as of July 12. Stuckey was previously group president, Sara Lee branded apparel casualwear and emerging business for Sara Lee Corp. She will report to Claire Watts, e.v.p. merchandising for Wal-Mart Stores, USA.

MINNEAPOLIS - May Department Stores Co. announced yesterday that it will pay $3.24 billion in cash to purchase the Marshall Field's division from Target Corp., according to the Associated Press.

MINNEAPOLIS - Dale Riley, head of Roundy's ailing Rainbow Foods operations, based here, announced his resigation yesterday, according to published reports.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Wal-Mart is tops with consumers when it comes to which store serves the needs of the community best, say 28.9 percent of more than 7,000 shoppers surveyed, while 5.3 percent believe Target does the most in that regard, according to the just released May Consumer Intentions and Actions survey from BIGresearch.

CHICAGO - Target Corp. is planning an expansion of a new prototype store model that it quietly unveiled in October, adding more food items and reorganizing departments in hopes of getting more shoppers into the discount stores.