Walmart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In what may be a step toward union organization, employees of some central Florida Wal-Mart stores have formed a workers group to air their complaints about what they claim is poor treatment by the large retailer.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Two of Wal-Mart's top brass are being promoted to vice chairman status while also trading duties, the world's largest retailer said on Friday. John Menzer, who has led Wal-Mart's international division, will oversee U.S. stores, and Mike Duke, who has headed up Wal-Mart's domestic stores, will lead the company's international division.

Who are the hair care consumers, and where do they shop? The stats contain clues.

VALHALLA, N.Y. and BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart and Sam's Club shoppers will soon be able to experience the best of a traditional film drop box and a digital order kiosk, thanks to the new "Digital Dropbox" from Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. The new service is targeted toward customers who don't have broadband access or a computer at home, but own a digital camera and want quality prints via the traditional film processing "drop-off" experience.

ST. LOUIS -- Leaders from labor unions that bolted from the AFL-CIO vowed at their first formal meeting here yesterday to organize Wal-Mart's work force and reach out to people who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina.

GALVESTON, Texas -- As Hurricane Rita churned through the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, retailers in or near its predicted path through Galveston, Texas were selling out of basic supplies and shutting their doors in anticipation of the worst.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands and BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Ahold has sold its indirectly owned stake of 33.3 percent in the Central American Retail Holding Co. N.V. (CARHCO) joint venture to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the two companies said. The investment is Wal-Mart's first in the region. The transaction amount wasn't disclosed by either party.

LONDON -- The British press was busy with reports yesterday that Tesco has sent an in-house team to the United States to probe the possibility of making a bid for Albertsons.