Australia's #1 grocer/supermarket operator models its inventory management on Wal-Mart's. Whatever can be done to lower costs, especially to reduce manual and double handling, will be done.

A new-ish low cost competitor here, Aldi, just dispenses with shelves, so stock just sits on the pallets. It's effectively a micro- warehouse located in the shopping centre. LCC indeed!

That said, when I visited a Wal Mart for the first time last year I felt no desire to return.