Lee Scott said what?, Another tax loophole closes for Wal-Mart, FTC tells Whole Foods to rebrand Wild Oats, Trader John's

Image via WikipediaYesterday Lee Scott addressed the National Retail Federation in New York City, urging cooperation to solve the nations health care crisis.

Lee Scott, the outgoing chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, asked business leaders to embrace such initiatives as universal health care, renewable energy and immigration reform during a presentation to attendees at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show here yesterday.

He [Lee Scott], also sees a new consumer mindset.

Local retailers throughout China are teaming up to battle Wal-Mart.

Another Wal-Mart Tax loophole may come to an end, this time in West Virginia.

The UFCW is gearing up for their Wal-Mart battle in Canada.

More info on Wal-Mart's new private label line "the Wal-Mart Great Value line"

And if that's not enough Wal-Mart news, they're also on the verge of setting up shop in Russia.

The FTC asks Whole Foods to re-brand Wild Oats.

Whole Foods is also putting off another store, this time in New Hampshire.

Wegman's CEO recognized for 'business ethics'

AdAge brings up a great point regarding the Trader Joe's, Trader John's lawsuit. "But in New York, no one's afraid to blatantly copy and/or steal a good idea -- hence Ray's Original Pizza, Ray's Pizza, Famous Ray's Original Pizza, Original Famous Ray's Pizza, New York's Rayriginal's Fizza, etc"

Progressive Grocer picked up the story also.

Food Marketing Institute’s new president and chief executive officer said the association is working diligently on a range of issues with Congress and the incoming Obama administration.

Politics

Caroline Kennedy still has a shot at the Senate seat says Governor Patterson.

Tom Suozzi met with Patterson on the Senate seat.

Anthony Weiner blames Mayor Bloomberg for New York City's growing problems, specifically the "boom-and-bust planning"

Democrats, first time in control of the State Senate since 1965 made some moves yesterday.

Elsewhere

A battle is raging on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where CVS is wooing cash-strapped shoppers with house-brand anti-wrinkle cream that’s as much as 30 percent cheaper than L’Oreal SA’s Advanced Revitalift.

Buying online to avoid sales taxes could end soon.

Zoo's and Aquariums may face the ax here.

Do the Rockerfeller Drug laws need reform?

Canada Justices to hear Wal-Mart v.s. UFCW, Trader John's update, Monday Morning Read.

Image by Getty Images via DaylifePenn Traffic Co., Syracuse, said Friday that it would close eight stores early next month as part of a strategy to invest behind its best-performing assets. The company said it would work with union representatives and employees to find the "best solution" for the affected workers.

The recession finally hits Wal-Mart.

Lee Scott thinks retailers specifically can help the plummeting economy.

Trader Joe's is suing Gristedes....Here's more at Bloomberg News.

In Minnesota, unionization gets a renewed push.

Canada Justices to hear WalMart vs UFCW.

Up to four stores at Atlas Park may close.


Politics

With Caroline Kennedy stumbling in her debut performance as Sen. Clinton's replacement-in-waiting, some are asking why Gov. David Patterson wouldn't pick New York's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo for Clinton's seat after she is named secretary of state.

Meanwhile Patterson & Kennedy meet to discuss the Senate.

A Queens assemblyman has proposed a four-day workweek for some state employees to help offset the $15 billion budget deficit faced by New York in 2009.

Just as the recession is throwing people out of work at an alarming rate, the unemployment insurance system in New York and many other states will start cutting off benefits this week for thousands of people who have been unable to find jobs since early last year.

Anthony Weiner, trying to fight his way out of Mayor Bloomberg's shadow.

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Tuesday's News, Politics, Politics.

Image via Wikipedia
In a letter sent to President-elect Barack Obama last week, the National Grocers Association urged the incoming administration to maintain a level playing field for independent grocers through an economic stimulus, fair employee-employer legislation, federal regulation of credit card interchange fees and enforcement of antitrust laws.
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A former Wal-Mart and Fresh & Easy exec joins Walgreen's.

Balducci's is offering their own caviar line.

Politics
New York City’s budget gap may reach $8 billion in 18 months as the city’s Wall Street-dependent economy deteriorates, Tom DiNapoli.

Clinton is $13 Million she lent campaign.

Bloomberg defends Kennedy's bid for Clinton's vacated seat.

Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman said Ms. Kennedy fully intends to support the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor, after the would-be senator avoided answering the question over the weekend.

Protest at Valley Stream Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart attempts to get out of unionization, Monday morning news...

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Newsday: "Rally to protest Wal-Mart Black Friday Death"

Here's Newsday's report on Sunday's demonstration, here's the video.

Wal-Mart attempts to get out of unionization again: Wal-Mart Canada says it will try to appeal a Quebec Labour Board ruling that granted union certification at a store in Gatineau.

Just months after Wal-Mart shut a unionized tire shop in Gatineau, Que., near Ottawa, about 150 employees at another Wal-Mart have won bargaining rights.

Global Domination: Wal-Mart plans to tender a $2.7 billion offer for all of the shares of D&S, Chile's largest supermarket chain.

For eight years, three people allegedly recruited and later forced Vietnamese nationals to work in two York-area nail parlors in a practice decried by the U.S. Attorney's Office as "modern-day slavery."

New Seasons Market in Oregon, reportedly plans to appeal a judge's decision last week that would force it to comply with a subpoena related to the Whole Foods antitrust case.

Politics

A longtime aide to Senator Edward Kennedy has reached out to labor officials in Washington in an effort to help Caroline Kennedy in her bid to be appointed United States senator from New York.

Questions about Caroline Kennedy are reminding experts of Hillary Clinton.

Another 12 million dollar lawsuit against Wal-Mart, Labor Secretary appointment, Friday Morning...

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Crain's is hosting a conference featuring Michael Bloomberg on the future of New York.

The NY Times takes a look at the Labor Secretary appointment.

Here's Stuart Applebaum on the Labor Secretary appointment.

Wal-Mart refused to allow a Salvation Army Volunteer to ring his holiday bell inside the store in the midst of a blizzard.

Wal-Mart may try to open a second Chicago store...

An Arab- and Muslim-American man filed a $12 million lawsuit Thursday against a Wal-Mart store that caters to his community -- saying employees discriminated against him and fired him because of his background.

About 150 workers at a Wal-Mart store here became the ninth group of Canadian Wal-Mart employees to be granted union certification, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said Thursday.
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Must Read: "Newspapers need to cover labor as fairly as they cover themselves" An Excellent Editorial..

Rite Aid continues to fall, forecast cut...


Politics

The Daily News looks at Caroline Kennedy's voting record.

New York Gov. David Paterson says Andrew Cuomo wants to be considered for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Patterson on the budget cuts: "I certainly accept the criticism because I can't tell anyone they're wrong," Paterson told reporters in Manhattan. "The education cuts are draconian. The health care cuts are prohibitive. The taxes being levied on New York's citizens are not fair. But when you add it all up, we think we delivered the pain pretty evenly." Two days after unveiling his plan to cut $15.4 billion in deficits over the next 16 months, the governor found himself

The AP takes a glance at the donors for the Clinton foundation.

Embattled defense contractor Blackwater Worldwide contributed a pile of cash to Bill Clinton's foundation, newly released records show - the first potential conflict for his wife, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, who may ultimately decide if the contractor stays in Iraq.

Here are the winners of Schumers Inauguration lottery.

Fresh Direct Promotes Healthy Eating in the Office, NYC Food Bank gets a huge grant, more One-Liners...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Police in Connecticut have arrested three men and charged them with stealing about $5,000 from area supermarkets by turning in fake receipts from coin-counting machines, a published report said Wednesday.
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A transit rider in protest of the rising fares and cut of service, attempted to throw his shoe at the MTA board of directors yesterday at an open panel.

The MTA OK'd the hike.

Fresh Direct launched a program "Smart Eating at the Office" The program will bring chefs and nutritionists to your office for a lunch time seminar on healthy foods.

A Portland, Ore., chain of grocery stores has lost a legal bid to keep its confidential business information out of the hands of lawyers for competitor Whole Foods Markets Inc. (WFMI), which says it needs the information to defend itself in a high-stakes battle with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Wegman's applauded Patterson's plan to sell wine in grocery stores.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. has elected Picis president and c.e.o. Christine Cournoyer, to its board of directors. The Wakefield, Mass.-based company is a worldwide provider of software solutions for automating resource-intensive hospital documentation and business practices

The NYC Food Bank receives their biggest grant since 9/11.

Wal-Mart Stores here has reportedly launched a new grocery format in Puerto Rico called Super Ahorros, a discount format similar to the Bodega Express chain the company operates in Mexico and to other similar formats it operates across Central and South America.
Read more of this story


The legal outcomes of a fatal nightclub fire in Rhode Island and a deadly stampede at a Bronx concert could serve as model cases for Nassau County prosecutors in their criminal investigation of the Wal-Mart stampede in Valley Stream, legal observers say...

Op-Ed: "Wal-Mart could have prevented death."

Still on the rise:
A leading consumer research firm raised its holiday retail sales outlook on Wednesday, due to what it called Wal-Mart's "domination" of the retail industry with its bargain-basement deals.

President-elect Barack Obama named Tom Vilsack the next U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary yesterday.
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Politics

Peter King said "Caroline Kennedy is not qualified."

The Mayor's top aide says Caroline Kennedy will be the next Senator.

If she isn't appointed she'll run in '10

Wal-Mart manufactures American Flag pins in China, Patterson's wine sale proposal, Interview with BJ's Wholesale Club's new CEO, more one liners....

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Wal-Mart awarded a manufacturing job to create American Flag pins to China, over an American company.

D'Agostino customers purchased over 9,000 food bundles this holiday season to feed the needy.

Here's an interview with the new CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Laura Sen.

Supermarket News has a piece on preparing Supermarkets for 2009.

Negotiations between Loblaw Cos. and the union representing workers at Maxi stores in Quebec resumed over the weekend as the strike affecting 14 stores continued.
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New York will join 35 other states that permit wine to be sold in multiple grocery stores if one of the revenue actions in the Empire State’s 2009 budget proposal is approved.
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A new proposal by Patterson could also boost wine sales in grocery stores.

More on the wine sales at the Progressive Grocer.


Politics

David Paterson plans a state work force reduction of about 3,000, but will suggest that layoffs can be averted if unions agree to givebacks

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would, at least in theory, provide for the collection of taxes on cigarettes sold from the state's Indian reservations.

Patterson has an Op-Ed in the NY Daily News explaining the budget cuts and new taxes.

Bloomberg calls Patterson's budget cuts in NYC "unfair".

Hillary Clinton tells supporters to back off on criticisms on Caroline Kennedy.

When will Wal-Mart close the Union Shop?, Friday One-Liners...

Image by Getty I

Happy Friday, here's what's in the news12/12/2008

The Island Harvest is holding a few food drives at some Local 1500 stores this weekend.

Lee Scott will address the nation including the economy on Meet the Press Sunday

There has been a call for a state probe in the Black Friday stampede

WakeupWal-Mart is wondering how long it will take for the recently unionized Wal-Mart [Canada] to close.

Delhaize Group said it has named Stefan Descheemaeker as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 5.
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BJ's Wholesale Club here on Thursday made it official: Laura Sen will be its next chief executive officer.
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A coalition of food safety, science and consumer groups has urged President-elect Barack Obama to appoint a Secretary of Agriculture "who has had experience with or has been an advocate of the USDA's nutrition, food safety, and conservation programs" and who "has had experience providing leadership to a large and diverse organization."
Read more of this story

Stuart Applebaum released a statement regarding the idea of Caroline Kennedy taking Hillary's vacant Senate seat.

Applebaum also released a statement responding to a Labor Department report that the number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits has soared to 4.43 million.

Christine Quinn announced, No rebate checks for Christmas

Betsy Gotbaum is meeting with her potential successors.