Mass Market Retailers articles from December 2006

Mass Market Retailers archives from December 2006

Family Dollar delay.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Family Dollar Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... FAMILY DOLLAR DELAY: Family Dollar Dollar Stores Inc. executives say an ongoing investigation into the way the company issues stock options prevented them from filing an annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the November...

Pathmark joins co-op.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Pathmark Stores Inc.)(Topco Associates L.L.C.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... PATHMARK JOINS CO-OP: Pathmark Stores Inc. has joined Topco Associates LLC, a privately held national cooperative that helps its members leverage their collective volume to attain cost efficiencies in product procurement. Pathmark executives...

Duckwall-Alco exec.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Philip Hixon appointed)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... DUCKWALL-ALCO EXEC: Philip Hixon has joined Duckwall-Alco Stores Inc. as vice president of store development. He comes to the discount chain after more than 30 years in retailing and management. Most recently, Hixon was vice president of store...

Bartell wins award.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BARTELL WINS AWARD: Bartell Drug Co., the 54-store chain that has been in business since 1890, was named best large business at the 13th annual Best in the Northwest Washington Family Business Awards ceremony in Seattle last month. "This award...

Dollar General retools.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 11, 2006... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp., seeking to improve its performance, has launched a slate of initiatives that includes 400 store closings and a new approach to real estate and inventory management. The company also has named David...

Wal-Mart November sales big news.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- Retail sales in November were mixed, as department stores, warehouse clubs and drug stores drew shoppers' favor. The big surprise of the month, though, was the decline in comparable-store sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.--the first in...

Save Mart to acquire 132 Albertsons units.(Save Mart Supermarkets Inc.)
December 11, 2006... MODESTO, Calif. -- Save Mart Supermarkets Inc. has agreed to acquire 132 Albertsons stores in northern California and northern Nevada. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close by the end of February, have not been disclosed. Save...

Food lion plans.(Food Lion LLC)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion LLC is giving a fresh look to its stores here in the Myrtle Beach area. The company has announced plans to remodel 20 of its outlets in the area by mid-2007. All of the stores will offer enhanced fresh...

Winn-Dixie bids adieu to chap. 11.(NEWS)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc)
December 11, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. emerged from bankruptcy last month nearly two years after it filed for Chapter 11 protection because of huge financial losses caused by competitive pressures. At the same time, the company said...

Video market steps.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in video downloads market)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... VIDEO MARKET STEPS: Wal-Mart has taken its first step into the video downloads market--an exclusive Superman Returns DVD bundle containing a download option with purchase of the physical DVD. The package gives customers the flexibility to watch...

More download sales.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... MORE DOWNLOAD SALES: Wal-Mart, which accounts for more than one-third of the country's video sales, has announced that it will test a video download service on its web site, www.walmart.com, next year. Hewlett-Packard is providing the...

Find savings online.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... FIND SAVINGS ONLINE: Wal-Mart celebrated the week starting Cyber Monday (November 27) with special savings on gifts carried only at walmart.com. Through Friday December 1 customers could shop the web site for savings on popular electronics,...

Generics programs go national.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has extended its $4 generic prescription program to all of its domestic pharmacies. The rollout of the program to the final 11 states was announced late last month, making the low-cost prescriptions...

Stop & Shop expanding value improvement plan.(NEWS)(Stop and Shop Supermarket Co.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... QUINCY, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. is launching its new paper aisle, the latest phase of an initiative that promises to help consumers stretch their shopping dollars. The move is part of Stop & Shop's Value Improvement Program...

Safeway touts Medicare Rx benefit.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. has partnered with four health care insurers to offer customer assistance regarding information on the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Partners include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and...

Meijer teams up with Discover.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Supercenter operator Meijer Inc. has joined a Discover Network program offering cash withdrawals with purchases. Discover cardholders can get cash with purchases at Meijer's 176 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana,...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
December 11, 2006... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change BJ's (1) 10/28 2.02 bil +3 Dollar Tree 10/28 910.4 mil +14.3 Fred's (2) 10/28 407.9...

Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(retail stores's stock prices)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 11/24/06 vs. 11/10/06 Change Dillard's 35.81 +5.80 +19.3 Dollar General 16.30 +2.39 +17.2 BJ's ...

Biggest losers.(MONEY)(retail stores's stock prices)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 11/24/06 vs. 11/10/06 Change Costplus 11.73 -1.45 -11.0 Circuit City 24.25 -1.41 - 5.5 Rite Aid ...

Most active.(MONEY)(retail stores's stock prices)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... MOST ACTIVE 1 Wk. As a % Change vs. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 11/24/06 Shares 11/10/06 BJ's 6,596 8.9 +202.0 Dollar General...

Winn-Dixie may restrict stock transfers.(MONEY NEWS)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... WINN-DIXIE MAY RESTRICT STOCK TRANSFERS: Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., which emerged from Chapter 11 protection last month, has declared that shareholders should consider the total of common shares outstanding as 54.5 million in determining their...

Dollar General declares dividend.(MONEY NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... DOLLAR GENERAL DECLARES DIVIDEND: The board of directors of Dollar General Corp. has declared a dividend of 5 cents per share, payable January 18, 2007, to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2007.

Share repurchase plan for dollar tree.(MONEY NEWS)(Dollar Tree Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... SHARE REPURCHASE PLAN FOR DOLLAR TREE: The board of directors of Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has authorized the repurchase of an additional $500 million of its common stock. The authorization is in addition to the $300 million repurchase...

Special meeting of Rite Aid shareholders set.(MONEY NEWS)(Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy )(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... SPECIAL MEETING OF RITE AID SHAREHOLDERS SET: Rite Aid Corp. has scheduled a special shareholders meeting in connection with the company's pending acquisition of the Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy operations from the Jean Coutu Group. At the meeting,...

Target is in high gear.(SPOTLIGHT)(third quarter earnings)(Financial report)
December 11, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- With both its core retail and credit card businesses contributing to the bottom line, net income at Target Corp. rose more than 16% during the third quarter of fiscal 2006, handily beating Wall Streets expectations. Management...

Longs gets boost from PBM unit.(MONEY)(Longs Drug Stores Corp)(pharmacy benefits management)(Financial report)
December 11, 2006... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Revenues generated by its pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business helped drive up net income by more than 40% during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 at Longs Drug Stores Corp. The results exceeded Wall Streets...

Delhaize America gains momentum.(MONEY)(Financial report)
December 11, 2006... SALISBURY, N.C. -- Double-digit growth in operating profit combined with reduced interest costs and a lower tax rate to drive up third quarter income from ongoing lines by nearly one-third at Delhaize America Inc. The United States unit of...

Fred's net off 5.8% in quarter.(MONEY)(Financial report)
December 11, 2006... MEMPHIS -- Disappointing October business and the inclusion of stock-based compensation expense helped push down net income in the third quarter at Fred's Inc., despite a respect able overall sales performance for the three months. The...

BJ's profits fall 34.1% despite 2.9% sales rise.(MONEY)(BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... NATICK, Mass. -- With sales growth decelerating, net income at BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. plummeted more than one-third in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, but the results were still better than Wall Street had expected. Net income for the...

Mass retail stock struggle.(MONEY)(retail stores stock prices)(Industry overview)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- Mass market retailing stocks fell across the board during November as investors became skeptical about the outlook for the all-important Christmas 2006 selling season. During the period from October 31 to November 24 the MMR...

For Wal-Mart India is last, very big frontier.(OPINION)
December 11, 2006... Amid the din surrounding Wal-Mart's ongoing struggle to reinvigorate its domestic same-store sales, the company's long-anticipated breakthrough in India has received relatively short shrift. It would, however, be a mistake to underestimate the...

It just couldn't be more clear.(OPINION)(Tesco PLC)
December 11, 2006... Not surprisingly, Tesco has developed the world's most comprehensive and easily understood nutritional labeling system. Not surprisingly, because pretty much everything Tesco delves into becomes the best, if not at once than at last. As...

The spoken word still carries a lot of clout.(OPINION)
December 11, 2006... NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- A recommendation by a friend can be worth as much to a retailer as the buzz generated by an expensive advertising campaign, experts say. And a recent study suggests that is good news for many chains. The recent...

Leverage, invest, diversify: the supplier's bargain.(CHAPTER 6)(Company overview)
December 11, 2006... MANY BOOKS ABOUT WAL-MART Stores Inc. have appeared over the last decade, some relating the history of the retail giant, others claiming to distill the genius behind the company's incredible Success. Wal-Smart: What It Really Takes to...

Wal-Mart's bank bid.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Wal-Mart de Mexico S.A. de C.V)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... WAL-MART'S BANK BID: Wal-Mart de Mexico plans to launch a bank in Mexico by the second quarter of next year, the first banking operation of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. anywhere. While the retailer has tried to launch a bank in the United States for...

Zellers' new look.(GLOBAL NEWS)(reopened its renovated store)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ZELLERS' NEW LOOK: Hudson's Bay Co. has reopened its renovated Zellers Inc. store in Boisbriand, Quebec. The store's makeover includes such features as custom-designed and color-specific photography to make it easier for shoppers to navigate...

Sobeys distribution.(GLOBAL NEW)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... SOBEYS DISTRIBUTION: Sobeys Inc. has announced plans to build a new distribution center at a site in Vaughan, Ontario, which it says will increase its warehouse and distribution capacity while reducing costs. Meanwhile, the company expects that...

Cencosud to expand.(GLOBAL NEWS)(bid to acquire Almacenes Exito)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... CENCOSUD TO EXPAND: Chilean retailer Cencosud SA may make a bid to acquire Almacenes Exito, Colombia's largest supermarket chain, from Grupo Toro. Cencosud has said it would buy at least 24.5% of Exito for $276 million. It expects to make a...

Zhang, Wumart founder and chairman, resigns under cloud.(GLOBAL)(Zhang Wenzhong)(Wumart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BEIJING -- Zhang Wenzhong, the founder and chairman of Wumart Stores Inc. and reportedly the target of an investigation by Chinese authorities, resigned in November. Wumart, Beijing's largest supermarket chain, has issued a statement that...

Wal-Mart to enter India.(SPOTLIGHT)(Bharti Enterprises Ltd.)
December 11, 2006... MUMBAI -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will achieve its long-held goal of entering India's retail market through an alliance with Bharti Enterprises Ltd., a conglomerate active both in food marketing and in telecommunications. Wal-Mart beat out Tesco...

U.K. suppliers to join Tesco in U.S. debut.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- When British supermarket chain Tesco PLC opens stores in the western United States next year, it will bring along with it two United Kingdom-based food suppliers. According to an article in The Financial Times, Tesco's plan is...

Loblaws will shutter 43 stores.(GLOBAL)(Loblaw Companies Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... TORONTO -- In an attempt to boost profitability, Loblaw Cos. will close 19 stores in Quebec, mostly those under the Provigo banner, and 24 cash-and-carry and warehouse outlets. Canada's largest supermarket operator announced its plans,...

Ahold earnings top expectations.(GLOBAL)(Koninklijke Ahold N.V.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Ahold NV has posted a third quarter net profit that was slightly above analysts' forecasts and said that it expects a challenging fourth quarter. Hurt by a class-action settlement, the food retailer had earnings of 210 euros...

Jel Sert and Unistraw enter licensing agreement.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... JEL SERT AND UNISTRAW ENTER LICENSING AGREEMENT: Jel Sert Co.'s first product launch under an exclusive licensing agreement with Unistraw International Pty. will be the milk flavoring straws called Sipahh. The straws flavor milk by using a...

Float'n firefly toothbrush with feet.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Dr. Fresh Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... FLOAT'N FIREFLY TOOTHBRUSH WITH FEET: Dr. Fresh Inc. has expanded its FireFly toothbrush line to include the Float'n FireFly toothbrush with feet. It comes in a variety of colors and in such characters as Dr. Dash, Lightning Lance and Pepperoni...

Kellogg expands Special K offerings.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... KELLOGG EXPANDS SPECIAL K OFFERINGS: Kellogg Co has expanded its Special K brand with the launch of three new shape-management products--Special [K.sub.2]O protein waters, Special K protein meal bars and Special K protein snack bars. The...

BIC mark-it retractable permanent marker.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(BIC Consumer Products Div.)
December 11, 2006... BIC MARK-IT RETRACTABLE PERMANENT MARKER: BIC Consumer Products, a division of BIC USA Inc., has announced plans to launch in January its Mark-It Retractable permanent marker in black, blue, red and green ink. Its features include a pen-style,...

Warrell introduces wizard candy sticks.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... WARRELL INTRODUCES WIZARD CANDY STICKS: Warrell Corp.'s Pennsylvania Dutch Candies brand has launched Wizard Sticks, a two-ounce intensely flavored hard candy stick. Available in eight flavors--Bubble Gum, Cherry, Watermelon, Sour Apple, Hot...

IRI tracks shifts in top 200 mass market categories.(SUPPLY SIDE)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- The latest ranking of the 200 best-selling product categories in food, drug and discount stores compiled by Information Resources Inc. (IRI) shows few startling changes from last year but does highlight the handful of categories...

Alberto-Culver retools.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... MELROSE PARK, Ill. -- Alberto-Culver Co. has combined two marketing units into a single entity after spinning off Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. Alberto-Culver completed the revamping on November 16, which resulted in two publicly traded...

Pfizer puts mouthwash in spotlight.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. -- As part of its yearlong initiative to get consumers and dental professionals to rethink the role of mouth rinse as part of a healthful lifestyle, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Listerine, ran a special...

Organic throat drops make debut.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Botanical Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... FERNDALE, Wash. -- Botanical Laboratories Inc. has launched Soothing Organic Throat Drops in three flavors. The drops, available in lemon/honey, cherry and orange flavors, are formulated solely with organically grown ingredients and carry...

Arden fragrance gets spokesman.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Elizabeth Arden Inc)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- Elizabeth Arden Inc. has signed Nextel Cup Series winner and Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson as the national spokesman for its Daytona 500 fragrance for men. "The Daytona 500 fragrance leverages the prestige and popularity...

Top-selling mass market categories *.(Statistical table)
December 11, 2006... Top-Selling Mass Market Categories * For the 52 weeks ended November 5, 2006 TOTAL FDM FDM EXCLUD. EXCLUDING WAL-MART % WAL-MART CATEGORY ...

Crossmark changes.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Jim Norred, Hollie Gonzales and Clay Curtis)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... CROSSMARK CHANGES: Crossmark Inc. has announced several executive promotions: Jim Norred to executive vice president of operations for the sales agency, Hollie Gonzales to chief information officer and Clay Curtis to vice president of training...

3M executive shifts.(PEOPLE NEWS)(James Mahan, John Woodworth and Jay Ihlenfeld)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... 3M EXECUTIVE SHIFTS: 3M Co. has announced the retirement of James Mahan, senior vice president of corporate supply chain operations, earlier this month. John Woodworth has been named his successor. Other changes include Jay Ihlenfeld, appointed...

IRI appointees named.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Mark Parise and David Williams appopinted)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... IRI APPOINTEES NAMED: Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has announced that Mark Parise has rejoined the company as president of IRI International. In addition, Mark Tims was named president of Global Solutions Management. In a separate...

Hormel board chair.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Joel Johnson retires and Jeffrey Ettinger appointed)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... HORMEL BOARD CHAIR: Hormel Foods Corp. has announced the retirement of Joel Johnson as chairman of the company's board of directors, and it also said that Jeffrey Ettinger had been elected his successor. Ettinger will continue to serve as...

Duckwall-ALCO move.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Duckwall-AlCO Stores Inc. appoints Tom Canfield Jr.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... DUCKWALL-ALCO MOVE: Duckwall-AlCO Stores Inc. has named Tom Canfield Jr. to the post of senior vice president. He was named vice president in 1988 and most recently served as vice president of administration and distribution. In his new role he...

BJ's CEO steps down.(SPOTLIGHT)(BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)
December 11, 2006... NATICK, Mass. -- Rumors that BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. might be put up for sale were rekindled--at least briefly--by the recent resignation of president and chief executive officer Mike Wedge. Chairman Herb Zarkin is serving as interim CEO until...

Gonzales is set to retire from Safeway.(PEOPLE)(Dick Gonzales)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. senior vice president of human resources Dick Gonzales has announced that he will retire at the end of the year after a 20-year career with the supermarket company. During his time with Safeway Gonzales...

Newell Rubbermaid shifts execs.(PEOPLE)(Ron Hardnock, Todd Helms and Gordon Steele)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ATLANTA -- Newell Rubbermaid Inc. has reorganized its investor relations, corporate communications and information technology departments. Ron Hardnock has changed his role from vice president and corporate controller to vice president of...

Penn traffic undergoes big shake-up.(PEOPLE)(appointments and resignations )(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Penn Traffic Co. has hired a new management team following the resignation of five vice presidents. According to published reports, the executives who have resigned are: Frank Price, general counsel; Tom Kearns, vice...

Corbett joins Wal-Mart board.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Roger Corbett)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Roger Corbett, who recently retired as chief executive officer and group managing director of Woolworths Ltd. in Australia, has been named to the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The appointment of the...

Meetings shows.(TOPICS)(Calendar)
December 11, 2006... 4-7--URBAN EXPOSITION: Miami Beach Gift Show, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla. 6-9--URBAN EXPOSITION: Philadelphia Gift Show, Greater Reading Expo Center, Reading, Pa. 7-11--ECRM: Pharmacy, Renaissance Grand Hotel, St....

Hear around.(Shoppers Drug Mart beauty presentation )(Dollar store developments and market retailing)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... * Shoppers Drug Mart's beauty presentation is arguably the most complet and most compelling that chain drug retailing has seen. * In the wake of recent developments at Dollar General and Family Dollar, the dollar store segment has become...

CPG industry has a lot of clout.(SPOTLIGHT)(financial report)(Financial report)
December 11, 2006... CHICAGO -- The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry generates an estimated $2.1 trillion in sales and contributes more than $1 trillion worth of value to the United States economy, a recent report says. The findings, which are included in the...

Study finds retail shrink on the rise.(rate of retail shrinkage)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- For the first time in four years the rate of retail shrinkage has increased last year, a new study from researchers at the University of Florida shows. Shrinkage, which the report defines as a combination of employee...

ECRM slates nutrition show.(TOPICS)
December 11, 2006... CLEVELAND -- After what its executives say was a very successful show for nutrition-based products last year, Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) will hold this year's event for four days next month in Pittsburgh. Scheduled for...

Two supers embrace reusable bags.(TOPICS)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., its Giant Food division and A&P have announced that they will start offering shoppers reusable bags. Each retailer will sell the bags for 99 cents apiece. A&P, which is offering its bags in four...

Wal-Mart sells for less--and much more: the world's largest retailer has embarked on a program of transformation designed to drive future growth by adapting to a changing world.(Wal-Mart Out Front)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The year that ends this month may well be remembered in retailing annals as the year Wal-Mart Stores Inc. redefined itself. Indeed, the company that emerges from this year's Christmas selling season bears little...

Walton's credo of 'staying out in front of change still applies.(Wal-Mart Out Front)
December 11, 2006... FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- One of the keys to Wal-Mart's success over the years has been its willingness to change, according to president and chief executive officer Lee Scott. The retailer is now accelerating that process, Scott told...

Wal-mart takes pulse of consumers, then reacts.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- For John Menzer the past year has been, if not the year of living dangerously, a year of living amid challenges not previously confronted by an executive responsible for the United States unit of the world's largest...

Making an impact where it matters most.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s expansion plans)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's "store of the community" program is not just about tailoring the retailer's units to the neighborhoods they serve, vice chairman of domestic operations John Menzer explains. Another element involves putting...

Retailer cites need for better ROI.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc., return on investment)
December 11, 2006... NEW YORK -- Perhaps the biggest surprise to emerge from Wal-Mart's annual analysts' conference held in New York in October was the company's decision to sharply reduce the growth rate of its capital spending, particularly in the United States....

Expansion plans take a turn.(Wal-Mart Out Front)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In past years Wal-Mart's expansion plans have mainly been driven by the desire to keep growing sales. Next year that will change, as management shifts its emphasis to containing capital costs and improving returns on...

Wal-Mart draws people who shop.(Wal-Mart Out Front)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart frequently encounters opposition when it attempts to enter new markets or expand its footprint in communities where it already has a presence, in part because of the impact it has on smaller competing retailers....

Wal-Mart reaches out, maintains focus on value image: Wal-Mart is fine-tuning its stores, merchandise assortments and advertising in a bid to serve more of its customers' needs.(marketing strategies of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(broadening customer appeal)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Last autumn Wal-Mart unveiled a new merchandising strategy that was designed to persuade more-affluent consumers who shop the retailer selectively into spending more on their shopping trips. To achieve that, Wal-Mart has...

Priority is clear: improve the shopping experience.(shoppers evaluates Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s stores)(marketing strategies)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Last year attendees of Wal-Mart's annual analysts' conference were treated to surprisingly blunt and detailed self-criticism from the company's executives. Perhaps most important was the revelation that large numbers of...

As it grows, Wal-Mart learns to be flexible.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s business expansion plans and initiatives)(Company overview)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- As Wal-Mart has grown beyond its roots in rural, small-town America, it has faced the challenge of serving increasingly diverse populations and operating in more complex, sometimes challenging environments. The retailer has...

Remodeling provides stores with 'Significant uplift'.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. remodels its stores)(marketing strategies)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In its effort to broaden the appeal of its stores and improve the shopping experience, Wal-Mart has debuted a partial remodel program that targets 1,800 of its stores in the United States. The early results from completed...

Wal-Mart works to get apparel mix right.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s fashion and apparel marketing)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Someday the words "Wal-Mart" and "fashion" may be a natural pairing in a sentence--but not quite yet. The retailer has been working diligently over the past year to raise its visibility and reputation when it comes to...

Exsto appeals to men of style.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. launches Exsto men's clothing line)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- This summer Wal-Mart extended its fashion marketing efforts to include young men by launching the Exsto clothing line. The company touts the Exsto line--aimed at men ages 18 to 35--as offering innovative designs as...

Associates get more stylish.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s fashion marketing)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's innovative approach to fashion extends beyond the apparel available for sale to its customers. Store associates arc also getting a different look. The chain's recently introduced dress code eschews the...