Wal-Mart's RetailLink In The Spotlight.(Advertising Age )(Brief Article)

Food Institute Report, The, May, 2001

Confidentiality is cited by the nation's largest retailer as the reason it plans to stop selling data to market research companies. However, according to Advertising Age (May 21), Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s move, to take effect in August, is aimed at forcing Wal-Mart's suppliers and executives to use its in-house RetailLink system.

While syndicated data providers currently base Wal-Mart numbers on a sampling of 8% to 12% of Wal-Mart's discount stores and supercenters, RetailLink covers all of its operations--l,700 discount stores, 1,100 supercenters and 600 Sam's Club stores.

Bentonville, AR-based Wal-Mart has been selling point-of-sale data to at least six firms, including A.C. Nielsen Co., and Information Resources Inc. The firms utilize the...

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