Market Trends

As menopausal women turn away from hormone-replacement therapy, the market for herbal and other solutions grows.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said on Tuesday it plans to add about 8 percent more selling space in the coming fiscal year, continuing its aggressive growth despite a slumping economy, Reuters reports.

SAN DIEGO - SureBeam Corporation on Tuesday said its processed fresh ground beef will be sold at Pathmark Supermarkets. Pathmark joins supermarkets such as Wegmans and Lowes Foods, who introduced irradiated beef products this year.

MATTHEWS, N.C. - Harris Teeter Inc. is going after the growing eat-at-home market with a new fresh-foods program led by a professional chef at select stores, the Charlotte Business Journal reports.

WASHINGTON, DC - The industry gained an influential ally Thursday in its campaign to get the federal government to stop requiring that all stores divested in a market area when two chains merge go to a single buyer.

BRUSSELS - Belgian supermarket giant Delhaize Group on Thursday issued a warning about its U.S. grocery store sales for the second time in two months, taking its shares down by 14 percent.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons on Wednesday unveiled "Preferred Customer" loyalty cards at its 183 Northern California supermarkets, becoming the last major grocery chain in the state to embrace the controversial membership club program, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

DALLAS - Fleming Companies Inc. on Tuesday announced that it has decided to divest its 110 existing price-impact stores, which operate under the Food 4 Less and Rainbow Foods banners, in an effort to focus on its wholesaling business and further reduce its debt.