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NEW YORK -- Target continues to pull ahead of Walmart in the value retail category, according to a recent Harris poll. The company was named the 2011 Harris Poll Equitrend value retail brand of the year. This is the second consecutive year Target has led the way in the value retail category.

Target lead the way with a ranking of 74.1, while Walmart had a ranking of 70.8. The industry average in the value retail category was 67.3.

New York City -- A poll released Thursday by Harris Interactive named Target Corp. as its Value Retail Brand of the Year.

According to the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, Target has the strongest consumer brand equity among retail brands. Overall, awards are given in each of 46 different categories.

This is the second consecutive year Target has led the way in the Value Retail category, with the gap between runner-up Wal-Mart increasing.  

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart announced that, through the Walmart Foundation, it has donated $319 million in cash and $480 million in in-kind contributions around the globe during the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. According to Walmart, the company's U.S. giving grew by 64%, largely due to donations of produce, meats, poultry and other nutritious food to local food banks from Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations and distribution centers.

Bismarck, N.D. -- Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle announced that it has been named as the new property and leasing manager for Kirkwood Mall, an 845,000-sq.-ft. enclosed mall in Bismarck, N.D., by an affiliate of Radiant Partners that recently purchased the mall from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

Kirkwood Mall was built in 1970 and contains 80 shops, anchored by Herberger’s, I. Keating Furniture World, J.C. Penney, Scheels and Target.
 

Union, N.J. -- A Seabra Foods and Koki Japanese Buffet opened at Galloping Hill Center in Union, N.J., according to Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp., the property’s exclusive leasing and managing agent.

A Seabra Foods is a full-service grocer and will open a 30,861-sq. ft. space formerly housed by another supermarket tenant.

Koki Japanese Buffet leased 5,500 sq. ft., joining other retailers and services including Mandee, Memory Lane Hallmark, Citibank, Weight Watchers, Radio Shack and Manhattan Bagel.

Flushing, N.Y. -- Onex Real Estate Partners said that Payless ShoeSource has opened a new store at Sky View Center, the 800,000-sq.-ft shopping center located below Sky View Parc, Queens’ new mixed-used residential development.

The new 4,200-sq.-ft. Payless location, on level D of the Center, officially opens on April 9.

CHICAGO ─ Faced with rising food costs, U.S. consumers are turning to the cost savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years, according to The NPD Group.

NEW YORK -- A good reputation -- whether warranted or not -- can do a lot for a company's bottom line. So those companies that found themselves at the top of Forbes' most reputable companies list have much to celebrate.