Walmart

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. -- In mature categories that has evidenced little growth over the past five years, the traditional sales channels for cosmetics and toiletries -- especially food and department stores -- have experienced declining growth rates and market share, while other channels are gaining, according to a study conducted by international business consulting and market research firm Kline & Co., based here.

TAMPA, Fla. -- A group of approximately 100 Wal-Mart employees who work in Florida stores from Melbourne to Crystal River have scheduled a news conference here today to air complaints about working conditions at the state's largest private employer.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- As a company that has been accused of muscling out its competition here in the States, it's almost shocking to hear Wal-Mart c.e.o. Lee Scott complaining about another retailer having too much market share.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Putting action behind its statement earlier this year that organics and other healthy foods will play a bigger part in its stores, Wal-Mart Stores here is conducting a limited test market of Chicago-based Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s kefir product in up to 17 of its Chicago-land stores. The news, which came late Thursday, sent shares of Lifeway Foods soaring more than 20 percent early Friday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is proposing Merced, Calif., as the site for a regional distribution center, with construction planned to begin in 2007, and service to stores to start in 2008.

BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Thomas Coughlin, the former Wal-Mart vice chairman who was charged with misspending company funds and then was asked to relinquish his multimillion-dollar retirement package, has fired back by asking a state court to dismiss Wal-Mart's benefits lawsuit.

NEW YORK -- It looks like health care costs are going up for Big Apple retailers. The New York City Council yesterday passed the Health Care Security Act, Int. 468-A, which requires the city's grocers and other food retailers to provide health care for their workers. The legislation also applies to big-box stores that sell groceries. As a result, New York becomes the first municipality in the United States to impose such a law.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart continues to find growth in food, with supercenter food sales growing 17 percent for the second quarter, compared to total sales growth of 10.4 percent for the Wal-Mart division as a whole -- including supercenters, discount stores, and neighborhood markets.