Amazon.com, Inc.

SEATTLE -- Following a beta testing period that began late May, online retailer Amazon.com yesterday launched its grocery store formally with a letter from founder and c.e.o. Jeff Bezos posted front and center on the mega e-retailer's home page.

SEATTLE -- Is Amazon.com fixing to be the Web's Wal-Mart Supercenter? The leading e-tailer took what might be a first step in that direction yesterday, by adding a new grocery store to its mega e-merchandising site that will hawk more than 10,000 non-perishable grocery items "with convenience and low prices." Online food retailing may never be the same.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- More than 3,000 attendees from all over the country came to find out what's new in kosher, halal, and other ethnic foods at the first World Ethnic Market/KosherWorld trade show held in Anaheim, Calif. last month. The show was co-located with Natural Products Expo West.

INGOMAR, Pa. -- Michael Bergdahl, a full-time motivational speaker and writer based here, has published "The 10 Rules of Sam Walton," (Wiley, May 2006), his second book to reveal the secrets behind Wal-Mart's success and show readers how they might emulate some of the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail behemoth's most effective entrepreneurial strategies. His previous book, published in 2004, "What I Learned from Sam Walton: How to Compete and Thrive in a Wal-Mart World," details his experiences working for the world's largest retailer.

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Front-of-store solution provider Coinstar, Inc. has added Borders Books & Music and Waldenbooks stores to its selection of gift cards in its Coin to Card program.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Several industry movers and shakers spoke yesterday on the importance of retailer and supplier collaboration, during the GMA Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing (MSM) Conference here.

HOUSTON, Texas -- Gerlands here today added a new feature to its Coinstar kiosk that allows shoppers to purchase Amazon.com gift certificates using cash or coins.

NEW YORK -- Gristedes Supermarkets here continues to broaden its national e-commerce presence, most recently with Cubans--sandwiches, that is, in partnership with Freeport, N.Y.-based Roadhouse Foods.