Walmart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In one of Wal-Mart's first moves to give serious attention to the growing organic segment, the retailer said yesterday it is expanding its organic baby product lineup.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores has been saying in its commercials and marketing materials that it's a major proponent of employee diversity. Now the world's largest retailer aims to prove it by revealing how many women and minorities it employs on its Web site, http://Walmartfacts.com.

CHICAGO -- Thomas R. Greco, s.v.p. of sales for Frito-Lay North America, has been named Outstanding Champion for 2006 by the Network of Executive Women. The organization will honor Greco Sunday, May 7, at the group's annual Champion's Reception at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago. The reception is sponsored by Deloitte & Touche and will also honor this year's NEW scholarship winners.

WASHINGTON -- The world's largest retailer will be surrounded by plenty of critics today as it begins explaining to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) its plans to provide banking services through an Industrial Loan Corporation (ILC). The hearings are the first-ever formal public hearings on a bank application.

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Jan DeLyser, v.p. of marketing for the California Avocado Commission, was elected to chair the board of trustees of the Produce for Better Health Foundation based here.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- In line with parent company Ahold USA's determination to beef up its soft supermarket sales, Tops Markets, LLC, based here, said yesterday it was undertaking a series of steps to raise its profile in its core western New York market.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it has promoted Lawrence Jackson, who was previously e.v.p. of its people division, to president and c.e.o. of its global procurement division. Jackson will continue to report to president and c.e.o. Lee Scott.

CHICAGO -- In a speech yesterday at the Newspaper Association of America's annual convention here, Wal-Mart Stores' c.e.o. Lee Scott unveiled the retailer's latest PR and business initiative, "Wal-Mart Jobs and Opportunity Zones," a nationwide plan to build more than 50 stores in neighborhoods with high crime or unemployment rates, on sites that are environmentally contaminated, or in vacant buildings or malls in need of revitalization, over the next two years.