Discount Store

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores will stop paying an additional $1 an hour for working Sundays, taking a bite out of its single biggest expense, Bloomberg reported. The change will take effect at Walmart stores, Sam’s Club outlets and warehouses.

The move, which takes effect next year, applies only to associates hired after Jan. 1, the report said. It wouldn’t affect the retailer’s current U.S. staff, which numbers approximately 1.4 million.

New York City -- Two of Russia's largest grocery store chains, Pyaterochka and Kopeika, said on Monday that they would merge their operations in a move that would better position them to compete with Wal-Mart Stores, which is expected to enter the Russian market, according to the New York Times.

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether to certify the largest class-action employment discrimination lawsuit in U.S. history, a long-standing dispute involving Wal-Mart Stores and alleged gender bias in pay and promotions.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. on Monday lifted its earnings outlook for the year as fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 69% on continued growth in sales and margins.

The company reported earnings of $128.1 million in the latest quarter, compared with $75.6 million a year earlier. Net sales for the quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 10% to $3.22 billion and same-store sales increased 4.2%.

Apollo Beach, Fla. -- Tampa, Fla.-based RMC Property Management Group announced that Dollar Tree will open a new 9,500-sq.-ft. store at Summerfield Crossing Plaza, located in Apollo Beach, Fla.

The Dollar Tree Store will be constructed adjacent to a new 80,000-sq.-ft. Bealls department store.

Dollar Tree is slated to open April 2011.

New York City -- Loehmann's Holdings filed a Chapter 11 reorganization plan that includes a stock-rights offering backed by its Dubai-based owner, according to a Friday report by Bloomberg. The plan also includes a requirement that the Loehmann’s seek approval to sell its assets.