Walmart

WESTPORT, Conn. -- Shoppers would like more dynamic and exciting companies such as Starbucks, Whole Foods, Nordstrom's, or Disney to take over and run their local supermarkets, according to a research study conducted by New England Consulting Group (NECG) here.

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- RFID gains ground, Wal-Mart hits $500 billion, metal detectors at supermarket entrances -- these are some of the predictions made by market research firm ACNielsen at its Consumer 360 Conference yesterday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Supermarket operators in Ohio, take heed: Six Wal-Mart Supercenters are coming to a neighborhood near you on May 17. The stores are located near Cincinnati (Forest Park and Fairfield Township), Springfield, Bowling Green, and Upper Sandusky. Three of the stores are new facilities, and three are expanded or relocated stores.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Katherine Frisina, a former legislative aide to Sen. John Carey (R-Ohio), has joined the Ohio Grocers Association as director of government relations and public affairs, where she'll be responsible for managing OGA's government and media relations.

BOSTON -- A new survey commissioned by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) here showing the key role that bargain hunting plays in American middle-class consumers' lives yielded the information that such consumers say they're most likely to find high-quality bargains online, at discounters or at warehouse clubs, but very rarely at traditional department stores or neighborhood boutiques.

LONDON -- In a move similar to efforts being made by Wal-Mart, Britain's largest supermarket operator Tesco Plc has said it plans to implement a 10-point Community Plan in an attempt to improve its image as it continues to grow globally.

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) here said yesterday it was launching an in-store event, "Go Over the Hedge for Good Health" in more than 2,000 Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets across the country May 21. The promotion ties into the opening of the DreamWorks movie "Over the Hedge," by encouraging families with children to eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables daily for good health.

LONDON -- Already accounting for more than 32 percent of the global market, the world's largest 30 grocery retailers continue to grow at a faster rate than the modern grocery market as a whole, according to Planet Retail's Top 30 Grocery Retailers Worldwide report.