Walmart

Overall, February witnessed a year-over-year decline in total flyer circulation per market as well as pages per market. Conversely, the biggest change in this month was witnessed by Walmart, which saw a considerable jump in flyer circulation as well as the number of pages. This dramatic increase of 122% increase in flyer drop was mainly due to the two extra flyers dropped in the second and fourth week of February this year unlike the previous year.

Johannesburg, South Africa -- A South African regulatory body gave Wal-Mart permission on Friday to move ahead with its $2.2 billion purchase of South African chain Massmart.

The Competition Appeal Court upheld a ruling last year by the Competition Tribunal, but did require a study to determine a path to protect small producers who might not be able to compete with foreign producers from whom Wal-Mart can import cheaper goods.

It seems like forever ago that Walmart stopped reporting monthly sales and providing regular guidance updates, which is why one comment by Walmart CFO Charles Holley stood out above all the others he made this week at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke frequently asserts no other global retailer is better positioned than Walmart, and it is easy to see why he holds that view especially when compared with the situation at the world’s second largest retailer.

Fortune is out with its list of the “50 Most Admired Companies,” and Walmart landed at number 24, which is only a big deal if you buy into the notion espoused by those who compiled the list that it is the definitive report card on corporate reputations.

It is not, at least as far as retailers are concerned for the simple reason the methodology doesn’t take into account the views of shoppers whose perceptions of retail companies matter far more than the folks Fortune surveyed to arrive at their most admired ranking.

Walmart is guilty of greenwashing to enhance it corporate reputation, and it would take the company three centuries at the current pace to reach its goal of being supplied 100% by renewable energy, according to a group critical of Walmart sustainability efforts that others have lauded.

Target ranked 25th on Fortune’s listing of the 50 Most Admired Companies, which is the lowest level in the past six years. The decline could be viewed as troubling, but only if you buy into the notion that the list is the definitive report card on corporate reputations.

It is not, at least as far as retailers are concerned. In 2011 and 2010, Target was ranked 22nd, down from 2009 when it was ranked 19th and considerably below 2008 when it nearly broke into the top 10 with a ranking of 11th after a ranking of 13th in 2007.

Tustin, Calif. -- Present Value Properties announced Tuesday that Annette Kolb has been named director of real estate for the firm.

Kolb will be responsible for the real estate needs of national chain retailers including Pizza Hut, Long John Silver and Jack in the Box franchisees located in Phoenix, Dallas and Missouri. She will handle lease extensions/renegotiations, new locations and relocations and be based in Phoenix.