Walmart

NEW YORK -- According to double-blind taste tests conducted in 10 locations across the country by Meyers Research Center for the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), consumers by a 51-percent-to-49-percent say the prefer the taste of private label items over their national brand counterparts in 12 popular categories.

WILMINGTON, Del. --Timed to coincide with the release of the Fantastic Four's first movie in July, a collaboration between the Produce for Better Health Foundation and Wal-Mart Stores hopes to find families flying the produce departments at over 1,700 Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets on June 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to "Build a Fantastic You with 5 A Day The Color Way."

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. here is quietly testing company-owned gas stations at a small number of its stores, according to a Reuters report. The experiment, if expanded, could stymie its petroleum partner Murphy Oil Corp.'s fast-growing gas station business.

NEW ORLEANS -- An extensive study of sales trends in Oklahoma and Illinois -- states in which meth legislation has been in effect long enough to measure an impact pre- and post-legislation -- do not bode well for the supermarket industry.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Food is an important ingredient in Wal-Mart's recipe for success moving forward, according to president and c.e.o. F. Lee Scott--but that future might be tasting decidedly more upscale.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. and MINNEAPOLIS -- Mass merchandisers Wal-Mart and Target each posted a fifth consecutive year of positive comparable store sales in May 2005 yesterday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- More than 6,700 top-notch high school seniors and graduates this week will receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 from the Sam M. Walton Community Scholarship program, a nationwide program funded by the Wal-Mart & Sam's Club Foundation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Retail Forward's Future Spending Index improved to 99.1 for June from 96.6 last month, indicating consumers are in a better spending mood as the summer season approaches.