NEWSWATCH 2008-08-18

WAL-MART IN CANADA'S SUPREME COURT

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear two cases stemming from Wal-Mart's controversial closing of a unionized store in Quebec Province, the court here said. The store, located in Jonquière, closed in 2005 after workers had agreed to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers and were negotiating their first contract. Wal-Mart said the store was not profitable. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case after a lower court in Quebec sided with Wal-Mart.

C&S FINED FOR WAREHOUSE VIOLATIONS

HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration here last week proposed fines of $133,000 against C&S Wholesale Grocers for alleged “repeat and serious safety violations” at its warehouse in Windsor Locks, Conn. According to OSHA, the wholesaler was fined for three repeat citations including metal storage racks that were unstable; open-sided work platforms lacking railings; and ungrounded metal dock lights. C&S was cited for the same violations in 2004, 2005 and 2006, OSHA said.

RALEY'S DROPS TV IN AD SHUFFLE

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Raley's here is refocusing its advertising “to find the best ways to interact with customers,” including more interactive and online initiatives, the company told SN last week. The first step in that process was to discontinue television advertising in late June, spokeswoman Nicole Townsend said. “Customers are changing, and the media are changing, with people getting news and information from different sources, so we're changing our mix,” she explained.

KROGER IN COLUMBUS AGREEMENT

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Union workers at 87 Kroger stores here last week were to vote on a new contract forged between union leaders and the Cincinnati-based retailer. The tentative agreement was reached more than two months before the previous contract between Kroger and more than 11,000 workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1059 was to expire.

H-E-B ADDS WIND TURBINE: REPORT

WESLACO, Texas — A turbine to collect and generate wind energy was installed last week at H.E. Butt Grocery's warehouse here, reports said. The equipment from Wind Energy Corp. of Elizabeth, Ky., is part of a partnership between H-E-B and Wind Energy to test wind power opportunities in South Texas announced earlier this year. San Antonio-based H-E-B said the program would help provide power to the warehouse as part of an 18-to-24-month test. The turbine was installed on a 100-foot tower near the warehouse this week, the San Antonio Business Journal said.

IGA REVIVES USA RALLY EVENT

CHICAGO — IGA here said it will focus on the strength of its brand and the resources available to members at the 2008 IGA USA Rally, scheduled for Nov. 6-7 in Merrillville, Ind. The rally agenda will include talks by consultants and IGA executives on embracing the IGA brand in a challenging marketplace. The rally revives a 16-year tradition that ended 10 years ago when IGA stopped holding its MAP conferences — an acronym for merchandising, advertising and promotion — in favor of the IGA Global Summit.