- The Tennessean reports that Wal-Mart has become the second-ranked purveyor of groceries in the Nashville market, going from a seven percent market share to 26 percent over the past five years. Kroger remains in the first position, according to the paper, while Food Lion has slipped back to number three. And so-called independent grocers, which used to own 20 percent of the market, now do about 10 percent of Nashville’s grocery business.
- A new study out of Kansas State University reports that when Wal-Mart opens a new store, it helps the host community to attract shoppers overall…but often works to the severe detriment of neighboring communities.
While this specific conclusion hardly comes as a surprise, the study also recommended that states and counties take a more regional approach to economic development issues, as they cope with the dramatic impact that the opening of a Wal-Mart store can have.
- There must be some Irish eyes smiling today, as Wal-Mart vice chairman Tom Coughlin reportedly has told an industry conference that the company has no plans to open supercenters in Ireland. The reason, apparently, is because it would be difficult to obtain the kind of real estate necessary to create a wheel-and-spoke infrastructure preferred by Wal-Mart.
- Wal-Mart continues to be plagued by troubles in Germany, where it has announced that it will be closing down three stores by the first quarter of 2005. However, the company is trying to tamp down on speculation that more stores will be closed because of continuing losses.
