Labor & Employment

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp. here said Friday that it had completed the acquisition from Albertsons, Inc., of around 700 standalone Sav-On and Osco drug stores, in addition to a distribution center in La Habra, Calif.

QUINCY, Mass. -- After a "security breach" by one of its vendors, Ahold USA here sent letters last week to some former employees telling them that their personal information, including birth dates and Social Security numbers, could possibly be accessed by others.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is going full-speed ahead with more experimental stores, including concepts catering to Hispanics, Baby Boomers, and rural customers, said c.e.o. Lee Scott Friday at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s 36th annual shareholders meeting.

CARTERET, N.J. -- Pathmark Stores, Inc. here, which has been slowly battling its way back to financial health through a range of restructuring programs, yesterday posted a net loss of $5.4 million, or 10 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2006, vs. a net loss of $2.1 million, or seven cents per share, in the same period last year.

In the aisles at FMI, the smartest grocers know people are the best products to offer.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Price Chopper Supermarkets here yesterday said promoted a handful of executives with responsiobilities ranging from private label to operations.

CHICAGO -- This city might become the first in the nation to require "big box" retailers like Wal-Mart or Home Depot to pay employees a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour in benefits.

QUEENS VILLAGE, N.Y. -- Pathmark, Stop & Shop, and King Kullen operations in the New York metropolitan area with unionized workers could face a possible strike unless they can reach a tentative agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 over a new contract. The current contract will expire at midnight, June 24.