DSN Retailing Today articles from August 2003

DSN Retailing Today archives from August 2003

Viva Thalia! Kmart bets big on rising Latina star.
August 18, 2003... MIAMI -- Kmart has put its brand-dependent strategy to the test by executing what is arguably the most aggressive ethnic-label rollout the mass market has ever seen. Through its new partnership with Mexican pop sensation Thalia Sodi,...

Wall St. reacts unfavorably to revised Costco outlook.
August 18, 2003... ISSAQUAH, WASH. -- Tough competition from Sam's Club and spiraling health care costs forced Costco to lower its earnings estimates for 2003. The news drove Costco's stock price down by 20% in two days and raised concern among analysts about...

Bankrupt Bonus closes 239.(Bonus Stores Inc.)
August 18, 2003... COLUMBIA, MISS. -- All the hoopla about the booming dollar store channel may be true for the top chains, but even in a strong niche there is no guarantee of success. The latest to stumble in this segment is Bonus Stores, which filed for...

Marshalls expansion underscores consumer appetite for extreme value.(TJX Cos. adds another Marshalls to Tampa area)
August 18, 2003... TAMPA, FLA. -- Further evidence of the ongoing consumer shift toward companies that offer a compelling value proposition was on display recently in a quiet suburban area northeast of Tampa. The TJX Companies opened a new Marshalls store...

Lord & Taylor closings leave mall vacancies.(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... TAMPA, FLA. -- When the May Department Store Company decided last month to close 32 of its Lord & Taylor units, the thing that stood out about the move was the newness of many of the stores. For example, the palm trees outside the Lord &...

Online poll.
August 18, 2003... Is the Bush Administration doing enough to revive the economy? POLL For real-time results, or to particpate in our monthly online poll, visit dsnretailingtoday.com

Safeway resists Yucaipa bid suit.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Safeway announced Wednesday that it plans to file a counterclaim against private investment firm Yucaipa, which filed a losing bid to reacquire Safeway's Dominick's chain. Yucaipa filed a lawsuit against the supermarket chain...

eBay loses patent case.(Market Watch)(against Virginia inventor)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... NORFOLK, VA. -- A federal judge has ordered eBay to pay $29.5 million to a Virginia inventor who accused the online auction house of stealing his ideas, but the judge said eBay would not be forced to change the technology in question, the...

Party America to acquire Paper Warehouse.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... ALAMEDA, CALIF. -- Party America has inked a tentative agreement with Paper Warehouse, a retailer of party supplies and paper goods, to buy Paper Warehouse's 62 corporate stores and its wholly owned subsidiary Paper Warehouse Franchising....

Ahold gets audit extension.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- Dutch food retailer Ahold announced recently that its banks have extended a deadline to deliver audited 2002 accounts from the original Aug. 15 deadline to Sept. 30. Ahold--which needs to deliver the accounts to secure a credit...

Limited Brands Inc.(Financials)(reports increase in same-store sales for July)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Limited Brands Inc.'s July same-store sales rose 2%. Limited Brands said total July sales rose to $563.2 million, up from $529.4 million a year earlier.

Wal-Mart.(Financials)(reports increase in sales for four-week period ending August 1)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Wal-Mart reported that total sales for the four-week period ended Aug. 1 increased 11.9% to $18.6 billion, while the company's Wal-Mart division also experienced a double-digit sales gain for the month. The Wal-Mart division's sales increased...

Dollar General Corp.(Financials)(reports increase in sales for four weeks ending Auguts 1)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Dollar General Corp. reported sales of $494.1 million for the four weeks ended Aug. 1, up 1.38% from $434.3 million last year. The company said same-store sales for July increased 4.9%.

New Targets tweak signage, selection: supercenter space still outpaces discount.
August 18, 2003... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Stores continues to straddle the fence between an upscale image and a low-cost provider. This is a complicated position to be in for a retailer that has launched another new brand from designer Isaac Mizrahi and...

Denmark's BoConcept gears up to take on America.
August 18, 2003... NEW YORK -- For those who have been following Ikea's newly energized expansion in North America, be aware that even more Norse are arriving in North America, and they aren't stopping at Vinland. BoConcept, a furniture and accessories retailer...

Even young ceos have a taste for jet setting.
August 18, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Crystal Clements, 18, of Seattle, this year's Best Buy/JA Titan National Champion, prepares for the ride of her life in an L-39 jet fighter, part of a grand prize sponsored by Best Buy. Clements beat out...

Sears hosts cool event in New York.
August 18, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Seam set up its Cooling Station on July 291h at New York's South Street Seaport. The event featured an oversized inflatable igloo filled with Kenmore air conditioners and refrigerators, a cool spot for...

Video biz intent on taking wind out of pirates' sails.
August 18, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- DVD sales will continue to drive the video industry to new heights during the next few years, but there's a dark cloud on the horizon: the possibility that piracy could cut into video sales the way it has in the music business....

Back-to-school 2003: passing marks expected.
August 18, 2003... NEW YORK -- The mid-year report on back-to-school performance is in: Marks are definitely expected to improve during final quarter. It is safe to say that coming out with strong comps based on last year's poor performance will be a...

New Pep Boys ceo initiates extensive restructuring program.
August 18, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Plans are under way to boost profits and sales at Pep Boys under the lead of new ceo Lawrence Stevenson, whose first moves involved hiring a chief merchant, closing underperforming stores and cutting personnel. Though...

Kmart's 10 Deadly Sins.(Editorial)(Book Review)
August 18, 2003... The latest retail book to be released is the fourth major book so far this year that focuses on the nation's largest and most prominent retail companies. Over the past several months, books have been released on Wal-Mart, Target and Best...

Thalia gives Kmart new pop.(Viewpoint)
August 18, 2003... During my many encounters with retailers and vendors throughout the year, just about the only questions I get more often than "When is Wal-Mart going to make its big move with Neighborhood Market?" are "What's new out there?" and "What's the...

New OSHA legislation could provide balance, fairness.(Guest Column)(Column)
August 18, 2003... If there's one Federal agency here in Washington that causes blood to boil among America's retailers, it's the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA's mission is an important one: protecting the well-being of the nation's...

The right PR agency can make all the difference.(Guest Column)(Column)
August 18, 2003... Publicity through public relations is the most important and economical route to quick exposure for your company. It should be one of the first ways you promote your company--long before advertising, direct mail, etc. Well-executed PR is...

7-Eleven.(Retailer News)(profits data)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Retailer News--Though high-margin Slurpee sales slumped due to cold weather in parts of the United States, fresh food helped propel 7-Eleven to a merchandise gross profit advance of 3.9% to $679.9 million in the second quarter. Other...

In its fiscal third quarter, Harris Teeter sales rose 4.0% to $608.1 million from $584.8 million last year, due to net new store openings and a 1.7% gain in comparable-store sales.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... In its fiscal third quarter, Harris Teeter sales rose 4.0% to $608.1 million from $584.8 million last year, due to net new store openings and a 1.7% gain in comparable-store sales. Harris-Teeter's parent, Ruddick Corp., posted a quarterly net...

Improving sales trends at Food Lion and Kash n' Karry and continued strong sales at Hannaford--but mostly a shift in Easter--helped Delhaize America achieve 0.7% U.S. comparable-store sales growth in the fiscal 2003 second quarter.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Improving sales trends at Food and Kash n' Karry and continued strong sales at Hannaford--but mostly a shift in Easter--helped Delhaize America achieve 0.7% U.S. comparable-store sales growth in the fiscal 2003 second quarter. Total sales as...

Slimming drinks.(what's hot)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Childhood and adult obesity increasingly is being blamed on food providers, and food producers are reacting. According to published reports, PepsiCo has vowed that going forward, at least half of its new foods and beverages will be aimed at...

Nutrition concerns prompt changes in prepared- and packaged-meat business.(Food & consumables: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)
August 18, 2003... Attitudes about nutrition, health and eating habits seem poised to impact the meat business even more substantially after Kraft, McDonald's and other food providers have chosen to revisit their businesses in an effort to address issues like...

Meijer cinches Cincinnati.(Food & consumables: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Meijer is opening two stores in the Cincinnati area on Aug. 19, proving that it continues to press on despite the competition from newcomers to the supercenter business. The two new units represent the company's growth for the gear, but it...

Supercenters press supermarkets.(Food & consumables: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(credit analysis)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... J.P. Morgan credit analyst Margaret Cannella last week lowered her recommendation on the supermarket sector to underweight from neutral. While food and discount store observers debate the relative strength of the major supermarket chains...

Party City.(Retailer News)(head merchant sought)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Retailer News--The search continues for a new head merchant at Party City following the departure last month of evp of merchandising and marketing Andrew Bailen. He left the company five days after Party City reported sales at its 242...

Representatives from the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) are scheduled to meet with Wal-Mart later this month concerning the retailer's decision to remove several racy men's magazines from its shelves.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Representatives from the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) are scheduled to meet with Wal-Mart later this month concerning the retailer's decision to remove several racy men's magazines from its shelves. The meeting is to discuss ways the...

Office Depot's recent acquisition of Guilbert has resulted in several promotions.(Executive News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Executive News -- Office Depot's recent acquisition of Guilbert has resulted in several promotions. Rob Vale, formerly senior vp of the company's Business Services Division (BSD) Europe, has been named senior vp of European operations. Wim...

A straight edge.(what's hot)(paper trimmers)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... It is possible to cut a reasonably straight line with a good pair of scissors, but home office users and crafters looking for a truly straight edge know a paper trimmer is the way to go. To capitalize on growing demand among both user...

Secure storage continues cycle of growth.(Office Supplies Update)
August 18, 2003... Favorable trends in the market for secure storage products, such as fire- and water-resistant safes, continue to look good even though the category has experienced several years of strong growth. Expectations of continued growth are due...

Home products lead the pack.(Hardlines: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(school, home and office products industry)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Growth this year in the school, home and office products industry is projected to accelerate slightly from prior-year levels, according to the recently released state of the industry report from the School, Home & Office Products Association...

School supplies last on back-to-school list.(Hardlines: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... With a few more weeks left of back-to-school shopping, retailers will soon be able to tell whether consumers spent as much money on supplies as they indicated prior to the season. A major survey conducted by the National Retail Federation...

Kmart.(Retailer News)(Sesame Street back-to-school promotion)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Retailer News--Kmart and Sesame Street have come up with something of a unique back-to-school promotion. Starting on Aug. 24 and ending on Sept. 13, Kmart customers can order free reusable laminated placemats featuring the Muppets from Sesame...

Pier 1 Imports.(Retailer News)(earnings prediction downgrade)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Pier 1 Imports downgraded its earnings prediction for the second quarter, leading to a slide in the price of its stocks from an opening of $20.13 on the day of the announcement, July 29, to a close of $18.10 on July 30. Second quarter diluted...

Select Comfort.(Retailer News)(retailer plans new store openings)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Select Comfort opened 10 new stores in the second quarter and plans to debut 15 units in the second half of 2003, including four in the Boston area that bowed on Aug. 4, while closing four. The company operates 335 stores.

Imperial Home Decor Group.(Executive News)(Eliot Green will replace Doug Kelly as president, CEO)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Executive News--Doug Kelly, who had been president and ceo as well as a director of Imperial Home Decor Group, has vacated those positions within the organization. Eliot Green has succeeded Kelly. Green has been a member of IHDG's directors...

Home griddles.(what's hot)(Rival debuts Fold 'n Store electric griddle)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... While healthy food is a big focus of the moment, the old-fashioned fry griddle is making a comeback, this time designed for the home user. Publicity never hurts, and a new television campaign featuring a grill branded with the banner of the...

National brands, private labels snuggle up.(Bedding Update)
August 18, 2003... Increasingly, retailers are attempting to establish differentiation in bedding by combining high-flying national brands with private labels developed to address particular pace/value targets. Bed Bath & Beyond, for example, offers a label...

Pillowtex to empty its stuffing.(Home goods & housewares: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Pillowtex is the latest casualty of the struggle U.S. mills have had adjusting to the internationalizing home textiles market, but its liquidation will put key assets up for bid, including major brand names such as Fieldcrest, Cannon and...

Luxury bedding tops recent trends.(Home goods & housewares: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Although it's early for making definitive declarations about trends that might dominate the fall domestics market, major mills identified the luxury market as strong coining out of the spring meet. One consequence may be lively interest in...

Blockbuster Entertainment.(Retailer News)(video chain will debut store-within-a-store video game departments)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Retaile News--Blockbuster Entertainment will begin rolling out new store-within-a-store video game departments this month, extending a pilot plan it began last year in the United Kingdom. The chain plans to open as many as 150 departments...

Best Buy.(Retailer News)(retailer introduces Rewards Zone marketing program)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Best Buy has launched a new Rewards Zone program that gives customers redeemable points whenever they make a purchase. Members who enroll for $9.95 get 100 points for each $1 they spend and a $5 gift certificate for every 12,500 points they...

MGM Home Entertainment.(Vendor News)(firm creates MGM Kids label to gain larger share of children's entertainment market)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Vendor News--MGM Home Entertainment is angling for a larger share of the children's entertainment market with the launch of its new MGM Kids label. MGM has formed partnerships with 10 family entertainment companies to provide some of the...

Electronic Arts (EA).(Vendor News)(reports first quarter financial results)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) reported $18 million in net income for its first quarter ended June 30, more than double the total during the same period last year. EA attributed the increase to strong sales of games such as "The Sims...

Japan-imation.(what's hot)(studios release more anime titles)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Japanese animation--better known as anime--has been the domain of independent suppliers since the early '90s, but now some major studios are getting involved in the genre. Buena Vista Home Entertainment scored a hit in April with the...

Fall lineup counting on summer hits.(DVD Update)
August 18, 2003... Disney's "Finding Nemo"--and a slew of sequels led by "The Matrix Reloaded"--will head the slate of summer movies coming to DVD this fall. Retailers are hoping that a mix of summer hits and older classics debuting on DVD will fuel a repeat of...

Ebay focuses on video sales.(CE & entertainment: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Video suppliers looking to unload excess stock have traditionally gone to video liquidators, but now they're discovering a new venue: eBay. The online auctioneer was at the VSDA Convention in Las Vegas July 28 to 31 to talk to retailers...

DVD promo.(CE & entertainment: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 18, 2003... DVD PROMO THE TEN MOST HEAVILY PROMOTED (*) SELL-THROUGH VIDEO TITLES AT MASS ([dagger]) FOR THE PERIOD OF 6/1 THROUGH 6/30/2003 TITLE/STUDIO NO. OF ADS DAREDEVIL 29 Fox ...

CVS is installing digital print kiosks in 3,000 of its 4,100 stores.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Retailer News--CVS is installing digital print kiosks in 3,000 of its 4,100 stores. The Digital Picture Stations from Kodak offer consumers the ability to print from all existing digital media, including memory cards, CDs and disks.

Kodak.(consumer and professional imaging units merged)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Executive News--Kodak has combined its consumer and professional imaging units into a single business unit. Consumer-focused businesses such as cameras and films will be part of the "capture business" and kiosks, minilabs and paper will fall...

Nortisu.(Peter Mador named vice president)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Nortisu has appointed Peter Mador to vp of professional and new markets development. Mador has held positions at Gretag Imaging and Kodak and is now charged with helping Nortisu pursue customer specific digital printing and software solutions.

Consumer Electronics Show.(Association News)(to launch a Flash Forward Tech Zone)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Association News--The 2004 Consumer Electronics Show will expand its presence in digital imaging with the launch of a Flash Forward Tech Zone that will focus on digital cameras and camcorders, imaging software, at-home print solutions, online...

Camera phones.(forecast )(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... "As digital cameras move into preserving memories, the digital camera phone is moving into the previous sharing of images scenario," said Gary Pageau, associate publisher at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA). "The ranks of cell...

Digital comes home for the holidays.(Photo Imaging Update)(digital cameras are expected to be popular Christmas present)
August 18, 2003... Digital cameras are expected to be among the hottest-selling technologies in the upcoming holiday season, gaining on the popular (and now practically margin-free) DVD player as the gadget of choice placed under the tree. With prices holding...

Photo frames get wired.(CE & entertainment: what's hot * what's new * what's happening)(digital displays for digital photos are becoming increasingly popular option)
August 18, 2003... Digital imaging devices may have secured a firm foothold in the U.S. photo market, but the industry has yet to resolve the increasingly troubling issue of what will emerge as the medium of choice for displaying digital pictures. Currently,...

Disposable cameras finally go digital.(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... It was only a matter of time before what was not so very long a hot new technology became just another throwaway product, but one-time use digital cameras have arrived. Or at least they are available at 92 Wolf Camera and Ritz Camera...

Digital photography develops at retail in response to a 24/7 world.( )
August 18, 2003... Around the clock. 24/7. Anytime, anywhere. These are terms that have become commonplace in today's lightning-fast world where consumers increasingly demand everything yesterday. Whether it is instant messaging, printable airline boarding...

Hong Kong -- David Dyer has defected to Tommy Hilfiger from Lands' End, the company he put on a winning streak during his five-year tenure as president and ceo before Sears bought it in 2002.( )(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... HONG KONG -- David Dyer has defected to Tommy Hilfiger from Lands' End, the company he put on a winning streak during his five-year tenure as president and ceo before Sears bought it in 2002. Though Sears gave Dyer incentive to stay,...

Hudson's Bay Co.(introduces lifestyle magazine)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... TORONTO -- Hudson's Bay Co. has launched a lifestyle magazine, Living Spree, in hopes of encouraging shopping sprees at HBC's divisions. Half-a-million copies will be circulated to customers of The Bay, Zellers, hbc.com and Home Outfitters....

MZB.(Lisa Schwartz named vice president)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... NEW YORK -- MZB has appointed Lisa Schwartz vp of sales/major accounts for its new accessories and gifts division. MZB executives are excited about Schwartz's 20 years of experience, much of which involved direct interaction with Target,...

Questrom brings back Penney's fashion flair: national and proprietary labels get results.
August 18, 2003... JCPenney has been an American retail establishment for more than a century but it has been making dramatic changes to its apparel assortment with youthful vigor. The result is an increasingly healthful business. Traditional department stores...

Juniors market too big for its britches: consolidation moves begin.(Industry Overview)
August 18, 2003... The juniors specialty market has been hotter than hot for the past few years. "Yet, there have been some distinct retail success stories as well as stores that have failed to flourish over this past year. While some teen apparel resources are...

H&M.(book donation promotion)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Stockholm/New York -- Harry Potter's phenomenal publishing success has inspired retailers to become rather bookish. On Aug. 23 and 24, in stores from New Hampshire to Virginia, H&M has invited children aged 5 to 14, along with their parents...

Limited Too.(Julia DeVillers book signing)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... NEW ALBANY, OHIO -- Limited Too is also tuned in to literature, recently hosting a promotional book signing at three Columbus-area malls. Children's book author Julia DeVillers was on hand to sign copies of her "Tuned In" book series, which...

Retro characters 'accessory' to style.
August 18, 2003... Specialty retailers have seen licensed juniors accessories--featuring properties from American Greetings' Strawberry Shortcake to Warner Bros.' Scooby-Doo--pick up sales momentum the past few seasons. "We've been having double-digit...

The boot pump.(What's Ringing The Registers?)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Thanks to JLo in her Manolos, this streetwear--meets-"Sex in the City" shoe silhouette has been attracting customers from all walks of life. Whether its leather or pleather, $200 or $20, this shoe, combining healthy ankle support with a...

What's inside JCPenney? Three top executives share their vision of the company's future.(Interview)
August 18, 2003... Q As the business of apparel retailing has changed dramatically in the broadlines sector in the last few years, how have JCPenney's priorities evolved in the category? A QUESTROM: We're beefing up [our] strong businesses--for example,...

Race for market share gets tangled up in blue.( )
August 18, 2003... Industrywide, men's denim business is down. To be precise, this year's sales have been running about 5.1% below last year's already poor results, from $4.9 billion in the 12 months ended May 2002 to $4.7 billion in the 12 months ended May...

Stylized track suits go the distance.(women's clothing)
August 18, 2003... Stylish new renditions of the track suit are picking up speed in the misses market for '04, after continued success in juniors' sizes. Thanks to youthful, flattering details like narrow, form-conscious jackets and open, slit or flared legs,...

Bottoms continue to carry category.(children's clothing)
August 18, 2003... Bottoms are on top again, in boys' and girls' wear, expected to drive children's wear sales well into 2004. "There is no question that we continue along in a bottoms cycle," notes Allyson Grossman, director of fashion at Kids "R" Us....

Boise, OfficeMax merger creates larger No. 3.
August 4, 2003... SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO -- The notoriously stiff competition among office superstore retailers is set to intensify further following the recently announced acquisition of OfficeMax by Boise Cascade. Boise agreed to pay $9 a share for...

Sears, Citigroup seal $6 billion credit deal.
August 4, 2003... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Sears unloaded its credit and financial products business, which takes in nearly $32 billion in receivables each year, to Citigroup in a deal valued at approximately $6 billion. Citigroup gains Sears' entire portfolio...

Lynch resigns from Albertsons in wake of executive title tiff.(Peter Lynch)
August 4, 2003... BOISE, IDAHO -- Peter Lynch resigned as president, coo and director of Albertsons after a board decision to realign the executive suite and transfer the responsibilities and title of president to Larry Johnson, chairman and ceo, the company...

Galyan's grows despite 2Q hiccup.
August 4, 2003... PLAINFIELD, IND. -- When Galyan's Trading Company completed its public stock offering two years ago, the company was coming off a year in which its same-store sales increased 10.2%, sales per square foot surged to $308 and profits more than...

Odd Job hopes for Amazing turnaround.
August 4, 2003... SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. -- A three-year streak of losses and declining sales landed Odd Job Stores in a tough financial position, resulting in the board's decision to sell the majority of its shares to Amazing Savings, an upscale closeout...

Jo-Ann initiates new superstore expansion.
August 4, 2003... DALLAS -- Eight years of testing and revising the Jo-Ann superstore concept have culminated in the latest, slightly smaller prototype that is now the preferred growth vehicle to replace most traditional stores going forward. Among the 20...

Dollar General making more room for food.
August 4, 2003... HENDERSONVILLE, TENN. -- Food could grow in importance for value retailer Dollar General, depending on the success of a one-store test in the Nashville market that doubled the size of a store to accommodate more food items. A store in...

Dave Ferguson steps down at Wal-Mart Intl.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... LEEDS, ENGLAND -- The retirement last month of Wal-Mart Europe president and ceo Dave Ferguson, 58, has resulted in executives responsible for Wal-Mart's operation in the United Kingdom and Germany reporting directly to John Menzer, president...