What 2 Read on Tuesday

The NY Observer asks, just how desperate Walmart is to get into NYC.

Fairway Market has filed papers to go public.

The world's largest ShopRite opened in PA.
In case you missed it: Senator Sanders on the six Walmart Heirs: Waltons' wealth = 40% of Americans.  vimeo.com/46837120

NELP (National Employment-Law Project) just released a report finding big companies pay the lowest wages.  Target ranked in at #4, while you guessed it, Walmart came in at #1 on the list of largest employers paying the lowest wages.

FactCheck.org found out that Romney's "awesome" tax plan is mathematically impossible.  Also, Romney's campaign continues to edit Obama video clips to their liking.

Another report on what the potential aftermath of Supervalu CEO change could mean for unions.

Labor Press: Arizona's Immigrants and Unions (UFCW Local 99) Organizing against "Show Me Your Papers" Law.

Unions like the Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 in Phoenix and Tucson have been spurred by the law to negotiate contract language that requires employers to notify the union at the same time as they notify the member of any immigration-related actions taken against them, giving them time to find legal counsel. In addition the union has also secured a 90-day window for the worker to make sure documents are up to date

Tuesday News Before Noon: Riverhead Walmart back on? Obama Official Slams NY Food Stamps

UFCW files a federal suit against Arizona's Anti-Immigration Policy

The UFCW yesterday joined in a lawsuit filed in federal court challenging the constitutionality of Arizona’s recently passed immigration law, S.B. 1070. Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the Service Employees International Union and various civil rights organizations.  “We believe S.B. 1070 is unconstitutional, un-American and that it undermines our nation’s rich immigrant history. The law effectively legalizes racial profiling and sanctions harassment and discrimination. We are filing this suit to protect the rights of our members and all workers in the state of Arizona—and to uphold the values and ideals that make our nation strong.

More @ Supermarket News

Riverhead Walmart suit dismissed, plan back on track... {Newsday}

Riverhead Wal-Mart suit dismissed- Panel rules parties can't sue to block construction

A proposed Wal-Mart superstore in Riverhead is back on track, after a decision by an appellate division panel to throw out a lawsuit that had blocked the project.

Read the entire article here(without subscription).

Obama Official Slams NY Food Stamp Policy

A USDA executive says the city and state policy of fingerprinting Food Stamp applicants cost too much and is ineffective.

Whole Foods and Hannaford Bros are seeking answers:

Should supermarkets use a single-queue checkout system like that seen at aiports and banks?

Eating Right and Big Investor Gains with Whole Foods Market

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainablility (LOHAS) Investors- Putting their money where their mouth is.  Moody's has boosted their rating.

Union: Safeway rejects pay raise for Wyo. workers

CASPER,Wyo.- The union representing Safeway workers at 10 Wyoming stores say the grocery chain has rejected to pay raise proposals.

HEB Unveils Grocery Concept Amid Naming Scuffle

One of Texas' best known and largest grocery chains is being challenged by Trader Joe's Co. in what could herald the West Coast grocer's entry into the state.

Price Chopper is joining the fight against Diabetes.

Earnings Preview:BJ'S Wholesale Club

BJ's, like other wholesale club chains, saw its popularity soar when the recession hit as budget-minded consumers shopped its stores for deals on food and other necessities. That popularity has continued, but shoppers are still staying away from nonessential purchases.

Layoffs for state workers remain unclear as budget snarl continues...

ALBANY-Gov.Paterson is, or is not, contemplating laying off thousands of state workers, depending on who is speaking for the administration

Former Penn Traffic Execs are sentenced....[SN]

Two former Penn Traffic executives who had pleaded guilty to artificially inflating the company's financial performance have been sentenced to 14 months in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.

Thursday News After Noon.....Safeway Offers Union Buyouts, A New Store for King Kullen??

Image via Wikipedia

Safeway East to Offer Union Buyouts...
Safeway is meeting with union employees from its Eastern Division stores this week to discuss buyout offers for certain long-time employees, Supermarket News reported this morning.  Safeway is offering voluntary buyouts that would provide a lump-sum payment, in addition to severance, of between $35,000 and $50,000 to eligible employees.

King Kullen Real Estate: New Southampton Village Project, a New Home for King Kullen?
New development has "ideal real estate" for a supermarket, from the East Hampton Star:

As the plans look now, Pier One would move out of the building it occupies and into the Fortunoff building, which would be expanded from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet. Its former building would be expanded to anywhere from 24,000 to 30,000 square feet to accommodate a supermarket.


Mr. Gray said he had been in talks with Waldbaum’s but they had not moved forward. He said a smaller grocery operation such as Whole Foods, Citarella, or Food Emporium would be ideal for such a space. If King Kullen did move into the space behind the Sunoco station in Tuckahoe, he said it would be an ideal place for a Wild by Nature store, which is owned by the same company. He said Trader Joe’s, a discounted specialty grocery chain, would not be able to afford the rent at that site. He said he had been told that any market would need at least 30,000 square feet to consider the site, even though Mr. Murphree said the town’s intention was to have a 24,000 to 26,000-square-foot building there.

Columbia Athletics Teams Up with Fairway Market for Shopping Event in Plainview, Long Island
Fairway Market at Plainview, Long Island is hosting a shopping event to support the Columbia Lions on Wednesday, May 19.

Hannaford to take over former Tops site in Lake Placid:
The Hannaford Supermarkets company announced Wednesday that it has signed a lease agreement for a store in the former Tops supermarket site

Wal-Mart Store to pay up to $86M to settle unpaid wages lawsuit
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay up to $86 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it owes workers in California vacation pay and other unpaid wages, according to court filings on Tuesday.  Walmart will pay a minimum of $43 million and up to $86 million, plus the cost associated with a third party to calculate wages due to the workers.

Bristol Walmart workers arrested in connections with eight bomb threats
Bristol, Va. Walmart employees were arrested Tuesday and accused of calling in at least a dozen bomb threats to the store over the past week.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Project gets $60M Injection
A federal initiative that allows foreign investors to finance development projects in areas of high unemployment, according to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

The White House is calling for companies to stop marketing unhealthy foods to kids. [WSJ]
The recommendation is part of an 120-page report released Tuesday that outlines steps to fight the national epidemic. One in every three children ages 2-19 is overweight or obese, the report says. First Lady Michelle Obama has taken up childhood obesity as her signature cause.

UFCW Local 23 members rallied on Tuesday for good jobs in their community. This rally was all about showing solidarity and pride in being a member of their union--the UFCW.

Whole Foods is ahead of Earnings

USDA looks to reduce foodborne illnesses in poultry

UFCW: Arizona is Aiming to Punish Unions