RILA, NRF reject merger plan

RILA, NRF reject merger plan    Large retail industry trade groups Retail Industry Leaders Association and National Retail Federation have decided to end their merger discussions.
   'Following a deliberative process, RILA and NRF have ended discussions aimed at merging the two organizations. NRF and RILA will devote all resources to continuing the work they are each doing to address the serious issues that America's consumers and retailers are facing in today's economic environment,' said the associations' boards in a joint statement on Wednesday.
   In April, the executive committees of RILA and NRF unanimously agreed in principle to a merger. At the time, the groups said a single trade association representing retail interests on Capitol Hill would 'help to ensure that the retail industry speaks with one voice to advance the industry and its more than 15 million workers.'
   RILA has traditionally represented the largest U.S. retail chains. It has about 200 members, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Abercrombie & Fitch. NRF is the world's largest retail trade association, with about 2,500 member companies of all sizes comprising department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores; chain restaurants; and drug and grocery stores.