Walmart

YAKIMA, Wash. - Four supermarkets operating in Yakima, Wash., are bracing for a possible strike after asking workers to have their benefits scaled back in order to better compete with the nonunion Wal-Mart, which is expanding in Central Washington, the Yakima Herald Republic reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reportedly is looking for land in the Tampa Bay area for its stand-alone Neighborhood Market grocery stores, the Tampa Tribune reports.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In five years, Wal-Mart could be twice as big as it is today if it increases its market share in major categories such as food and apparel and newer areas such as gasoline, predicts global consulting and market research firm Retail Forward.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. today reported that its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 26 percent.

LONDON - Britain's third biggest supermarket group Asda, owned by Wal-Mart, reported industry-beating second quarter sales today and said the growth of its George clothing range would create an extra 2,000 jobs this year, Reuters reports.

LONDON - Netherlands-based Royal Ahold is expected to overtake French retailer Carrefour as the world's No. 2 grocery retailer during 2002, a new report from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) suggests.

Supermarket operators beware! Dollar stores are selling more food, listing more items at above a buck, and proliferating at the rate of more than 1,000 a year.

BOISE, Idaho - When Albertsons Inc. today broke ground on its newest Tulsa store location at Pine and Peoria, the company also announced plans to heavily invest new capital in the state of Oklahoma.