Also Known As "Slums are Unbecoming to Corporate America."
Wal-Mart’s healthcare reform myth shattered in secret memo. Here it is, as reported in the New York Times.
HIGHER EXPECTATIONS WEEK
On November 13-19, over 400 organizations from across the country—from small business owners and women’s rights groups to environmentalists and labor unions —are coming together to stand up to Wal-Mart.
http://walmartwatch.com/
Wal-Mart memo proposes cost cuts: report
Employees move shopping carts at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in La Quinta, California, in this March 3, 2004 file photo. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/File)
October 26, 2005
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An internal memo sent to the Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The paper said the draft memo to Wal-Mart's board was obtained from Wal-Mart Watch, a pressure group allied with labor unions that says Wal-Mart's pay and benefits are too low.
The paper said in the memorandum Susan Chambers, Wal-Mart's executive vice president for benefits, also recommends reducing 401(k) pension contributions and wooing younger, and presumably healthier, workers by offering education benefits.
Beer, spirits raise colon cancer risk
22.09.05
Beer and spirits drinkers face a higher risk of colorectal tumours, but wine drinkers may have a lower risk, according to a report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
"Alcohol is pernicious with regard to colorectal tumours," said Dr Joseph Anderson from New York's Stony Brook University. "Lifestyle plays a role, as genetics does, in the development of these tumours."
Dr Anderson and associates investigated the impact of regular alcohol consumption on colorectal tumours in 2291 patients undergoing screening colonoscopy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10346691
Anheuser-Busch, Wal-Mart, more
By Katherine Hunt
Last Updated: 10/30/2005 3:56:20 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Among the companies whose shares could see active trade in Monday's session are Anheuser-Busch Co. Inc., General Motors Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
P&O, formally known as Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. (POPO) has been contacted by a Dubai port operator regarding the possible sale of the British ports and ferries company, The Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition. The potential deal is valued at nearly $5.32 billion, the report said. See full story.
Wal-Mart (WMT) said it expects its October same-store sales in the U.S. to be up 4.3%. The retail giant had previously forecast comparable sales up 2% to 4% for the month. Without gasoline, the estimated comparative percent would have been about 30 basis points lower, Wal-Mart said. See full story.
http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=32565861&brk=1
Critics slam Wal-Mart's charm offensive
By The Associated Press
Oct 31, 2005, 00:06
NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. accelerated its campaign to polish its image by proposing this week a lower-cost health care plan for its employees, promising an environmental initiative, and calling for a boost in the minimum wage.
But the world’s largest retailer is finding that by trying to please everyone, it may be pleasing no one.
The company, which grew to be a $285 billion US giant has come under criticism in recent years for how it treats its workers, diversity in the workplace and its environmental record.
Critics complain that the recent initiatives are merely publicity stunts.
The 17 per cent drop in Wal-Mart’s stock price this year reflects the company’s woes.
Wal-Mart’s opponents call its new health care plan inadequate because workers would still have a $1,000 deductible. And they term the company’s advocacy of a higher minimum wage as a self-serving attempt to boost the buying power of its low-income customers.
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/thunderbay/publish/article_1341.php
Is Wal-Mart's charm offensive for real?
Memo suggests retail giant is under heavy pressure to cut benefit costs
WMT
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Updated: 7:01 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2005
NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has accelerated a campaign to polish its image by proposing a lower-cost health care plan for its employees, promising an environmental initiative and calling for a boost in the minimum wage.
But the world’s largest retailer is finding that by trying to please everyone — the public, politicians, shareholders and Wall Street — it may please no one.
The company, which grew to be a $285 billion giant by relentlessly focusing on price, has come under a barrage of criticism in recent years for how it treats workers, diversity in the workplace and its environmental record.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9855217/
Wal-Mart sues Miramar over rejection of store
By NATALIE P. McNEAL
nmcneal@herald.com
Wal-Mart attorneys filed a petition this month against Miramar alleging that the City Commission erred when it denied a rezoning that would have cleared the way for a Wal Mart Supercenter to be built in the city.
The petition, which asks the Broward Circuit Court to throw out the decision made by the commissioners, says that the City Commission ''failed to apply the correct law'' when it denied the zoning change.
In addition, the petition says that one of the newly elected commissioners, John Moore, should have been disqualified from voting because he had voted as a Planning and Zoning board member against the supercenter.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12926436.htm
Wal-Mart stumbles in reshaping image
Gaelle Geoffroy Washington, United States
30 October 2005 10:15
Wal-Mart, which has cultivated an image for brutal cost-cutting at the expense of employees and suppliers, is trying to reshape itself as a kinder, gentler company, but its legion of critics is not buying it.
Over the past week, Wal-Mart has launched a new environmental initiative -- aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and other pollution -- and announced plans to offer new health insurance for United States employees.
The world's largest retailer and the biggest global company in terms of 2004 revenues also said it wants to raise the percentage of minorities and women in managerial positions.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/&articleid=255187
Wal-Mart competing with compassion
By DAVID MOON, david@mooncap.com
October 29, 2005
Wal-Mart, the company that redefined retailing and changed the way America shops, has once again proved its marketing prowess. Last week, Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott called on Congress to raise the minimum wage.
"It's time for Congress to take a look at the minimum wage and other legislation that can help working families," said Scott, sounding more like a political candidate than the head of a retailing juggernaut. He also promised to work toward improving the environment by showing preference to suppliers that participate in the company's still-to-be-created "green company program."
Nowhere in his speech did Scott speak in favor of apple pie, babies or education, but I am sure the company officially supports all three.
Excuse me if I don't immediately nominate Wal-Mart for a Nobel human rights prize. In one speech, Scott scores PR points while putting even more pressure on his competitors. Isn't business fun?
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/business/article/0,1406,KNS_376_4195369,00.html
Wal-Mart close to land grab in India
By James Hall (Filed: 29/10/2005)
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has taken a major step towards opening stores in India, the second most populous country in the world.
Wal-Mart has requested permission from the Indian government to open two experimental stores in Kolkata, India's second largest city, formerly known as Calcutta. Under the proposals, Wal-Mart would buy locally produced food and general merchandise and transport it for sale in its outlets.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/10/30/cnwmart30.xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2005/10/30/ixcitytop.html
Wal-Mart critics hope new movie is a smash
6,800 sites to host DVD premiere by 'Outfoxed' director
Most of the 4 million people who saw director Robert Greenwald's last movie, a critique of Fox News called "Outfoxed," caught it at a house party. The independent film ignited liberal audiences last year without the benefit of a Hollywood distributor, major studio or much of a theatrical release.
Labor and faith groups are shooting higher with this week's premiere of Greenwald's "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price": They hope to use the film to coalesce a social movement around criticism of the world's largest retailer.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/30/WALMART.TMP
Wal-Mart forfeits soul to low prices
By LOREN STEFFY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
In an old store on the town square in Bentonville, Ark., sits a wooden desk that changed the world.
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It once belonged to Sam Walton, humble furniture from which he gave birth to what is now a retailing empire with $285 billion a year in sales.
The trip from Walton's original store to Wal-Mart's world headquarters is a few minutes. The journey from Walton's desk to the internal memo about Wal-Mart benefits that surfaced last week is far longer.
Somewhere along that road, the company lost its soul.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3424769
Arrest Warrant Issued in Wal-Mart Sneaky Thief Case
Oct 14, 2005, 01:42 PM EDT
UPDATE, 4PM TUE: Evansville police say they know who they're looking for in connection with thefts at Wal-Mart stores in Indiana and Kentucky.
Just minutes after surveillance video aired on local media, Evansville police say their phone began ringing off the hook with tips. Following up on those, they've now issued an arrest warrant for 44-year-old Ronald Black, who was last known to be living in the Evansville area.
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=3962907&nav=3w6o
Wal-Mart misses hearing deadline
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
By Lisa Cromwell
The Argus
CORNELIUS -- Mid-December is the earliest date the Cornelius Planning Commission could review Wal-Mart's development proposal for a new supercenter at North Adair Street and Fourth Avenue.
The large retailer missed an Oct. 10 deadline to present a complete proposal to the city, due to the absence of a letter from Clean Water Services regarding a small wetland on the property, said Jacob Graichen, a planner for Cornelius.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1129066339149070.xml&coll=6
Wal-Mart Launches Low-Cost Apparel Brand
October 10, 2005
NEW YORK -- As part of a strategy to attract consumers who may visit the store for cat food or paper towels, mega-discounter Wal-Mart is hoping to catch their attention with an exclusive, contemporary apparel collection called Metro 7 that launches in 500 stores on Tuesday, Oct. 11. If that doesn't do it, perhaps in-store POP featuring former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, will. Torres, the former wife of singer Marc Anthony, also will star in TV, print and online marketing for the brand. In-store appearances are also part of the plan.
Metro 7 offers styles that are feminine and contemporary but at affordable prices, from $10-29 retail, in misses and plus sizes.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/apparelretail/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001263262
Coppola Talks Moviemaking, Technology and Wal-Mart?
Director Christopher Coppola is working to build a digital movie school in New Mexico to help young moviemakers combine technology with art, believing "the land of enchantment" could become "the next digital capital" for the industry. "Film is daunting for young and old filmmakers because it's expensive," he says, relaxing in a leather easy chair at his movie studio Ears XXI in Los Angeles. "You can buy a digital camera and if you know how to use Final Cut Pro," editing software from Apple Computer, moviemaking can be mastered on a desktop or laptop PC.
Moviemakers are grabbling with methods to combine video gaming with movies and Internet media, and kids will have to find ways to "tell their stories in this kind of multitasking environment," he says. "I don't even like technology, but I've embraced it because I feel it's important for people to learn how to use it, and artists to use it."
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2005/10/coppola_talks_m.html
Former exec seeks Wal-Mart suit dismissal
MARCUS KABEL
Associated Press
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A lawyer for former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. vice chairman Tom Coughlin argued Tuesday for the dismissal of a lawsuit by the world's largest retailer, saying his client had an agreement with the company that it would not take punitive action against him after he retired.
Benton County Circuit Judge Jay Finch is to decide in a couple of weeks whether to allow Wal-Mart to go forward with its lawsuit filed this summer against its former No. 2 executive.
Wal-Mart sued Coughlin over his alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit himself. The company claimed Coughlin conspired with others, beginning in 1997, to defraud Wal-Mart of money for purchases such as alcoholic beverages, food, clothing, family trips, and all-terrain vehicles.
Coughlin retired in January but remained on the company board of directors. He resigned from the board in March, when the company disclosed it was handing documents over to the Justice Department showing that $500,000 had been misspent.
A federal grand jury is now investigating.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/financial_markets/12874526.htm
A Stepped-Up Assault on Wal-Mart
A scathing documentary and a coordinated campaign by labour, religious, and environmental groups spell more trouble for the retailing giant
It seems as if everyone lays into Wal-Mart (WMT ) these days. Small business types attack the world's largest retailer for killing local mom & pop shops. Women's groups blast it for alleged discrimination against female employees. Labor and community organizations accuse it of paying poverty-level wages and dumping employee health-care costs onto taxpayers. And environmental and community activists decry the traffic and sprawl its big-box stores can bring to a neighborhood (see BW Online, 8/7/05, "Wal-Mart's Giant Sucking Sound").
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2005/nf20051020_3732_db016.htm?campaign_id=topStories_ssi_5
Press/FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.
By MARCUS KABEL
Associated Press Writer
Wal-Mart to toughen overseas standards
OCT. 20 11:58 A.M. ET Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will start holding its suppliers more accountable for environmental and social standards at foreign factories as public expectations in the United States rise, Chief Executive Lee Scott said Thursday.
Scott told suppliers at a business conference that the public has high expectations of the world's largest retailer. The company has come under mounting fire from organized opponents over issues including the environmental and labor standards of low-cost manufacturers it buys from overseas.
Scott said Wal-Mart would be more involved in its suppliers' businesses to make sure they are accountable. The company will work with them to find new products that meet demand for higher standards, such as new clothing lines made from organically-grown cotton that Wal-Mart plans to sell next year.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8DBRTG0C.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db
Wal-Mart names international CFO
By Jennifer Waters, MarketWatch
Last Update: 4:43 PM ET Oct. 20, 2005
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. went outside its ranks to find a chief financial officer for the international division, naming Wan Ling Martello on Thursday.
Martello is the latest in the revolving door of top managers at the world's largest retailer (WMT:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
News, chart, profile
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WMT47.13, +1.63, +3.6%) ....
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/archived
Wal-Mart heir returns degree amid cheating claims
1:25 p.m. October 20, 2005
LOS ANGELES – Wal-Mart heiress Elizabeth Paige Laurie has surrendered her college degree following allegations that she cheated her way through the school.
The University of Southern California said in a statement that Laurie, 23, "voluntarily has surrendered her degree and returned her diploma to the university. She is not a graduate of USC."
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The statement, dated Sept. 30, said the university had ended its review of the allegations concerning Laurie.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20051020-1325-people-heiress.html
WAL-MART Announcement
Posted 3/1/2005 08:43 AM
Ohio Co. Economic Development Authority to vote on WAL-MART contract.
Story by Steve Mazure
The Ohio County Development Authority will vote tonight on whether to approve a contract with WAL-MART to build near CABELAS. Little opposition is expected even though the city of Wheeling was vying for the retailer to build near LOWE'S in center Wheeling. An announcement involving several retailers and restaurants coming to the CABELAS site is also expected tonight.
http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=1201
New giant a pipsqueak beside Wal-Mart
By BARRIE McKENNA
Tuesday, March 1, 2005, Page B14
WASHINGTON -- The combination of the two largest department store chains in the United States creates what looks like a retail colossus: nearly 1,000 stores in every state except Alaska, annual sales of $30-billion (U.S.) and 170,000 employees.
The full text of this article has 737 words.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050301%2FIBFED01%2FTPBusiness%2FInternational&ord=1130784972477&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true
Wal-Mart out of running for Daiei bidding
By Mariko Sanchanta in Tokyo
Published: March 1 2005 19:02 Last updated: March 1 2005 19:02
Wal-Mart has been eliminated from a shortlist of consortia bidding to become the lead investor in the rehabilitation of Daiei, whose restructuring is currently in the hands of the state-backed turnround body, the Industrial Revitalisation Corporation of Japan.
But people close to the deal say the world's biggest retailer - as well as foreign private equity funds - could still play a role in the revival of the Japanese retailer.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c057c172-6e3d-11d9-a60a-00000e2511c8.html
Bloomberg says Wal-Mart had right to come here
BLOOMBERG NEWS
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the City Council shouldn't have exerted pressure that scuttled a plan for what would have been Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s first location in the largest U.S. city.
"The City Council should not be picking and choosing which companies come into this city," Bloomberg told a gathering of executives at a Manhattan event sponsored by Crain's New York Business magazine. "I do not think that the City Council should look at things other than traffic patterns and those kinds of environmental things, which make sense from public policy point of view."
The mayor's comment came five days after council member Melinda Katz, a Queens Democrat who chairs the zoning committee, said Vornado Realty Trust had dropped Wal-Mart from a proposed shopping center in Rego Park, a Queens neighborhood. Katz said Wal-Mart's national labor practices "were overwhelming the conversation" in seeking land use approval for the project.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/285652p-244616c.html
Bloomberg backs Wal-Mart
by Anne Michaud
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city should not be in the business of telling Wal-Mart or any other company whether it can locate here. Unions and some retailers are mobilizing to block Wal-Mart's entry into the city, and legislation is pending in the City Council to make it impossible for Wal-Mart to open stores in New York. But the mayor told a special Crain's Breakfast forum on Tuesday that such decisions are bad business, which drew applause from the audience of more than 800. He added that there need to be some protections for small businesses that served the city in worse times.
http://newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?id=10055
WAL-MART Announcement
Posted 3/1/2005 08:43 AM
Ohio Co. Economic Development Authority to vote on WAL-MART contract.
Story by Steve Mazure Email Bio
The Ohio County Development Authority will vote tonight on whether to approve a contract with WAL-MART to build near CABELAS. Little opposition is expected even though the city of Wheeling was vying for the retailer to build near LOWE'S in center Wheeling. An announcement involving several retailers and restaurants coming to the CABELAS site is also expected tonight.
http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=1201
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