Another Wal-Mart document leak, another PR nightmare

Mil Apodos sent this story my way, which shows that Wal-Mart is committed to their mission of peace, love, and expansionism. Which begs the question, how many stores is enough? How many billions in profit will satisfy Walton's heirs? Apparently they're going to open a few hundred more stores in an attempt to find out.

The 11-page list provides details that Wal-Mart has not made public about what type and size of store it plans and by what date, as well as for which communities. The world's largest retailer operates four kinds of stores in the U.S. _ Supercenters, which include a full grocery department, Discount Stores without the grocery component, smaller Neighborhood Markets that are mainly grocery, and Sam's Clubs membership stores.

Wal-Mart in October listed its expansion plans in general terms, without mentioning states or towns. At that time, it said it expected to open 335 to 370 new stores, including 180 expansion projects, either upgrading a Discount Store to a Supercenter or expanding the size of a Sam's Club.

It is the latest internal document obtained by Wal-Mart critics and may add to pressure on the Bentonville, Ark.-based company as it attempts to maintain a rapid growth rate in the face of criticism from organized opponents who claim it treats workers badly and hurts local economies.

Last month, Wal-Mart Watch released another internal Wal-Mart document that detailed the company's plans to seek cost savings by cutting health care and retirement benefits, including proposals to make cashiers collect shopping carts to attract more physically fit employees and discourage unhealthy applicants.