Wal-Mart moves to counter Tesco

new york -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is hiring middle-management-level executives to help evaluate the types of stores that it operates before the arrival of British grocery Tesco to the United States.

But the world’s largest retailer said it would be “wrong to speculate” on what those job openings might mean for future merger-and-acquisition activity.

Earlier Monday, the Financial Times had reported that the retailer was considering acquisitions in the U.S., citing a Wal-Mart job posting for an executive to assess the “strategic implications of any possible M&A; on our overall portfolio.”

Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley said, “Two months ago we posted a number of middle-management-level positions to evaluate our existing formats to achieve better customer relevance. It would be wrong to speculate how that might translate to future M&A; activity.”

Tesco is preparing to open Fresh & Easy neighborhood grocery markets in the U.S. this year, and some speculate that Wal-Mart will introduce a smaller-store concept to compete with the Tesco stores.

Tesco is seeking to woo U.S. shoppers with smaller convenience stores of about 10,000 square feet emphasizing ready-to-eat meals and fresh produce in areas that are underserved by supermarket and grocery store chains.

In the U.S., Wal-Mart operates namesake discount stores that average 107,000 square feet; Supercenters that average 187,000 square feet and combine general merchandise with groceries; and smaller Neighborhood Markets that average 42,000 square feet and sell groceries, pharmaceuticals and general merchandise.

It also operates the Sam’s Club warehouse stores.

Shares of Wal-Mart, which is based in Bentonville, Ark., rose 8 cents to $43.82.