Stop & Shop Cos., Quincy, Mass., reported a 26.9% sales rise to $1.51 billion from $1.19 billion in the 16-week first quarter ended May 18. Figures include sales from 24 converted Purity stores and 17 Melmarkets Foodtown stores. Quarterly same-store sales were up 2.7% vs. 0.3% a year ago. Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., had a 12.8% rise in sales to $16.2 billion in its Wal-Mart division, which includes supercenters, for the first quarter ended April 30. Total company sales in the quarter rose 11.4% to $22.78 billion, with same-store sales up 3.7%, Wal-Mart reported.
