Walmart

LEEDS, England -- Wal-Mart-owned ASDA, the United Kingdom's second-largest retailer, is introducing Heartfelt Plus Natural Cheese, the first cheddar cheese in that country to combine both low-fat and cholesterol-lowering benefits. The product will be in stores tomorrow. Hearfelt Plus contains Reducol, a cholesterol-lowering ingredient developed by Vancouver, B.C.-based Forbes Medi-Tech, Inc.

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Larry's Markets this week revealed that the six-store chain, based here, is looking to sell the company and has filed for financial protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code while it engages in sales negotiations.

CERRITOS, Calif. -- Retail marketing services firm Mass Connections here is boosting its retail expertise with the addition of Douglas Pursley, a 15-year marketing veteran with Wal-Mart, Inc., who has joined the company as v.p., sales.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.