Walmart

TORONTO -- Top Canadian food retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. here is closing a distribution center in Mississauga, Ont. in the next two years and will contract out the work at its new DC in Ajax, Ont. to a third party, according to a published report.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Rumors are circulating that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. here might be mulling the launch of a smaller, convenience-type format in the United States that could conceivably counter Tesco's Fresh & Easy market entry planned for later this year.

Retailers at the latest NGA show made it clear you don't need to go to Vegas to be in a risky game.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday a New York Stock Exchange investigation requested by the AFL-CIO trade union confederation found the retailer is not violating exchange rules.

MONTVALE, N.J. -- In a development not only expected by many, but publicly hinted at by top executives from at least one of the parties involved, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. here said yesterday that it was in the midst of negotiations to acquire Carteret, N.J.-based Pathmark Stores, Inc. for a possible price of $12.50 per Pathmark share or about $653 million (based on the number of Pathmark shares outstanding), to be paid in cash and A&P stock.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it's buying a 35 percent stake in Taiwan-based Bounteous Co., a company that operates a major Chinese discount chain called Trust-Mart. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

TORONTO -- Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos., Ltd.'s recently outlined bid to salvage its business by such measures as concentrating on its Joe Fresh Brand of apparel and other nonfoods, slashing food prices, and improving services won't turn the troubled company's fortunes around overnight, analysts warned.

AUSTIN, Texas - In a surprise move, Whole Foods Market here is fighting back against the mainstream grocery chains, supercenters, and specialty operators that have moved in on its natural turf by moving to acquire its leading super-natural direct competitor, Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats Markets