Walmart

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - In stark contrast to much of the negative press it has received in recent months, Wal-Mart was named the best retailer to work for in Canada, on the annual "50 Best Employers in Canada" list, from Report on Business Magazine of the Toronto Globe and Mail. This marks the third time in four years that the mega-retailer has been chosen the best place to work in the Canadian retail industry.

LONDON, Ky. - Laurel Grocery Company, a privately owned wholesaler based here, has tapped Jack Hubbs to oversee its ambitious sales and development initiatives for 2005 and beyond.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands - Ahold late last week said that had agreed to sell its Brazilian retail chain, G. Barbosa Comercial, Ltda., to an affiliate of ACON Investments, a Washington, D.C.-based investment firm with other retailing investments in Latin America, for an estimated $122.4 million, according to published reports.

In the tradition of the late, great Al Lees, two independent-retailing experts discuss what the new year is likely to bring.

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Americans bought $62.2 billion worth of housewares at retail in 2003, according to the "2004 State-of-the-Industry Report" from the International Housewares Association (IHA). U.S. households spent an average of $578 each on housewares, a higher amount than that spent on fruits and vegetables ($563) or dairy products ($335).

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Next month, more than 100 of Wal-Mart¿s suppliers will begin shipping product cases and pallets bearing electronic product codes (EPCs) to three distribution centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. In preparation for heightened interest in the initiative, Wal-Mart has prepared a fact sheet on its Web site for consumers.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it would begin matching up to $1 million in donations from Salvation Army kettles at its stores.

LONDON - Supermarket groups in the United Kingdom are being forced to defend their online prices after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) here said it was investigating allegations of overcharging.