Walmart

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.

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.

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.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Prompted by the great need in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Salvation Army said Friday that they were extending the duration of the charity's 2005 holiday fundraising drive at all 3,800 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores across the country.

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.

The Network of Executive Women can help independents' management teams better reflect the changing consumer base.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is working to distinguish itself as the authority on Hispanic heritage, by selling educational products in stores and offering a new set of educators' tools online beginning today, the first official day of Hispanic Heritage Month.