Some California cities and counties have banned mega=stores in response to Wal-Mart's expansion plans but the giant retailer is fighting back.
"Since Wal-Mart announced its plans last year for 40 supercenters in California [a] smattering of cities and counties have passed bans on the mega-stores ... Wal-Mart chose to take on lawmakers in Contra Costa [County]...Supporters of the ban say that along with increasing traffic, supercenters stamp out competition and lead to thousands of lost jobs and lower wages...But Wal-Mart, which had more than $245 billion in sales last year, says that consumers have the right to shop where they want and that they deserve grocery prices that could be 15 percent lower than supermarket price."
Thanks to Steven Golden
FULL STORY: Big-Box Stores: Wal-Mart's supersize battle in the Bay Area

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