Mass Merchant

The increases in average transaction size and customer traffic that Target credited with driving its 4.1% same-store sales increase during August is unwelcome news for Walmart. This is especially true since the biggest gains continue to come in categories where Walmart is traditionally strongest and is intent on demonstrating price leadership.

Omaha, Neb. -- Wal-Mart Stores said it will build its first neighborhood market in Nebraska, a 34,000-sq.-ft. store opening in northwest Omaha.

Walmart last week opened the first of five market stores opening by Nov. 2 in Wichita, Kan. It was the retail giant's first venture into that city with the smaller market stores.

The full range of products to be sold at the new Walmart market includes fresh meats, vegetables, dairy products, dry goods and staples, bakery and deli items, canned and packaged goods, and pet and household supplies.

London -- Grocery giant Tesco PLC said Wednesday it is pulling out of Japan, which means shuttering 129 small, leasehold-owned stores in the Greater Tokyo area, which employ 4,000 people. The country is the smallest of Tesco’s international retail businesses, and the weakest for sales growth in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

“Having made considerable efforts in Japan, we have concluded that we cannot build a sufficiently scalable business,” said Philip Clarke, CEO.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon addressed attendees at the American Legion's 93rd National Convention on Wednesday, telling fellow Americans, veterans and Legionnaires that Walmart would create jobs in the U.S. by hiring more than 15,000 people to work in about 100 new and expanded Walmart stores by fiscal year's end.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that Roger Mason, Jr. of the New York Nets and Deion Branch of the New England Patriots will be featured in the company's social campaign for Protege, the company's exclusive footwear and apparel collection.

NEW YORK — Japanese fast-fashion giant Uniqlo is set to open its largest global flagship to date, an 89,000-sq.-ft. store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The store, which will also be the larger single retailer on Fifth Avenue, will open on Oct. 14.

One week later, Uniqlo will debut a second flagship in Manhattan, a 64,000-sq.-ft. store 34th St. It will be the chain’s second largest global flagship

New York City -- Japanese fast-fashion giant Uniqlo is set to open its largest global flagship to date, an 89,000-sq.-ft. store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The store, which will also be the larger single retailer on Fifth Avenue, will open on Oct. 14.

One week later, Uniqlo will debut a second flagship in Manhattan, a 64,000-sq.-ft. store 34th St. It will be the chain’s second largest global flagship

NEW YORK — Payless announced that it has expanded its partnership with designer Christian Siriano. His expanded collection will arrive Sept. 7 in 2,400 Payless stores across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and Payless.com.

This seasonal collection features a range of modern looks for everyday styling with an assortment of shoes and handbags offered at more moderate, accessible prices starting at $23 an item.