“Mounting a challenge to Wal-Mart Stores might look like a suicidal strategy for a company. But guess what? Grocery retailer Supervalu on Jan. 23 struck a deal to buy supermarket chain Albertsons, a combination that will give it a total of 2,656 stores, making it the second-largest supermarket company in the U.S. — and providing the heft it needs to combat giant Wal-Mart’s 3,700 stores.”