Wal Mart Stores

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over claims that it made Latino workers at a Fresno store endure harassment, including racial epithets.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it had been cooperating with federal investigators for three years when agents surprised it with a raid that rounded up about 250 alleged illegal immigrants working as cleaning crews at Wal-Mart stores in 21 states. Wal-Mart said it had slowed a money-saving plan to move its floor cleaning in-house so it could better help the government investigate the use of illegal immigrants by janitorial contractors. The U.S.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.: The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer said first-quarter net income rose 29% to $198.2 million and revenue climbed 25% to $5.37 billion from a year ago. The company said: "First quarter sales, driven by improved apparel sales and basic in-stock positions, ran above plan throughout the period." At April 30, the company had 1,279 Wal-Mart stores, 106 Sam's Wholesale clubs, 14 Dot Discount Drugstores and three Hypermart USA units.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. told Coca-Cola Co. that it would double its purchases of Powerade if the sports drink is delivered to its stores through its own warehouses rather than through the bottler system, and that it could jump to a private label if Coke can't do what Wal-Mart requests, the world's largest soft-drink maker said in a court filing. Coke warns that a private-label competitor to Gatorade could deprive Powerade of any future growth opportunities in Wal-Mart stores.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is recalling about 39,000 "Hip Charm" key chains made in China because the chain's charms can have high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested. An additional 12,000 of these key chains were recalled in April after a child who was mouthing a key chain was discovered to have high blood levels of lead. They were sold at Wal-Mart stores from April 2005 through this month. For more information, call Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278, or go to www.walmartstores.com or www.cpsc.

About 210,000 General Electric toasters, manufactured in China and imported by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., are being recalled because they can short circuit and pose a fire or shock hazard, according to the retailer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The company has received 140 reports of incidents, but no reports of injuries. The toasters were sold at Wal-Mart stores around the country between September 2007 and July 2008. More information: (800) 638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov.