Walmart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Canada is set to roll out an RFID pilot this autumn with 16 according to a published report. The pilot will concentrate on southern Ontario and involve the company's Mississauga DC and 20 stores.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is going full-speed ahead with more experimental stores, including concepts catering to Hispanics, Baby Boomers, and rural customers, said c.e.o. Lee Scott Friday at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s 36th annual shareholders meeting.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is considering selling ethanol-based fuel at its more than 380 gasoline stations.

With Wal-Mart gung ho on organics, suppliers and retailers alike will need to rethink their strategies.

CHICAGO -- This city might become the first in the nation to require "big box" retailers like Wal-Mart or Home Depot to pay employees a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour in benefits.

WATFORD, England -- International food and grocery research firm IGD here has forecast in a report that Wal-Mart will be the first global retailer to enter the Indian food and grocery retail market. Although the Indian retail sector, which is worth U.S. $203 billion according to the firm, is now closed to foreign direct investment, the government could allow international retailers to enter the market in the next year.

CHICAGO -- Describing Wal-Mart as a "retail powerhouse in transition," Information Resources, Inc. here took a deeper look at Wal-Mart's dilemma and predicts what its next steps may be, in its latest "Times & Trends" report.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Shares of Wal-Mart Stores were up 2.96 percent yesterday, closing at $49.45, after Banc of America Securities upgraded the retailer based on its new merchandising strategy coupled with its outlook of improved margins from an accelerated sourcing program.