NEWSWATCH 2000-03-13

A U.S. DISTRICT COURT in Salt Lake City granted class-action status to a lawsuit filed by independent grocers who allege Fleming, Oklahoma City, overcharged them on food distributed from its Salt Lake City warehouse, according to Brent O. Hatch, a Salt Lake City attorney representing the grocers. Hatch told SN the lawsuit alleges Fleming contracted to sell the grocers items at cost plus a fixed percentage, but kept two different sets of books: one, which the grocers could inspect, in Salt Lake City, and another, with the actual costs, in Oklahoma City.

hange its name to Wal-Mart de Mexico. Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., owns a 54% equity stake in the chain, which operates 204 supermarkets, 51 department stores and 204 restaurants in Mexico.