Walmart

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has determined that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., provided reasonable support for the company’s “Unbeatable Prices,” advertising claims, but recommended the retailer modify the accompanying disclosure. Further, New York-based NAD recommended the advertiser discontinue an “annual savings” claim.

Restraint is the new consumer mantra even as the worst of the recession seems to be over, according to Nielsen CEO David L. Calhoun, one of several speakers on the last day of this year’s World Food Summit held in New York.

Over the latest six (4-week) periods ending 5/16/2009, store brand unit sales averaged a 5.7% increase in consumer-packaged-goods departments tracked by Nielsen in food, drug and mass-merchandisers (including Walmart).

The U.S. retail sector, headed by specialty retailers, grocers, mass merchants and department stores, now accounts for the largest collective market for U.S. loyalty reward program memberships, outpacing Travel-Hospitality and Financial Services aggregate memberships, according to the 2009 COLLOQUY Loyalty Census shows.

Walmart’s four Marketside grocery stores in Arizona have received a subtle -- but potentially significant -- name change.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said last week in the wake of its annual meeting that it wouldn’t step up the trial of its Marketside small-footprint concept in the current economic climate, according to a published report.

Sam’s Club’s Hispanic-themed Más Club concept will debut July 2 in Houston, offering a variety of products imported from Latin American countries.

Safeway, Wal-Mart, and Rite Aid were among the retailers recognized for their supply chain collaboration efforts during the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association (VICS)/U Connect Annual Conference held last week at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.