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Inside This Issue - News
The nation’s two leading discount chains, Walmart and Target Corp., ended their fiscal years with somewhat varied results, but executives at both chains voiced cautious optimism about the year ahead. Sears Holdings Corp. will spin off some 1,250 small stores and sell 11 full-line units to help offset a $2.4 billion fourth quarter loss. As the Federal Trade Commission continues to scrutinize the proposed merger of two of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits managers, the companies’ top executives continue to question the value of community pharmacists in the nation’s health care system. Rising gasoline and food prices hurt Safeway Inc.’s sales in the fourth quarter, as consumers had less money to spend on discretionary purchases in its stores. Save-A-Lot is slated to open four stores this month after debuting nine in February. Supervalu Inc. has launched its new Essential Everyday store brand at selected independent grocers. Retailers in 2012 will focus on their customers as they strive to increase their “share of wallet” and accelerate sales growth, according to a new report.
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