31.   A nationwide department store chain said the toys are selling briskly but refused to give sales figures.

32.   But supermarket chain Asda said it was refusing to stock the cards.

33.   But the embattled beef industry got a boost when the hamburger chain Wimpy said it would put British beef back on the menus in a few days.

34.   However, the hamburger chain said it expects its performance to improve over the rest of the year.

35.   In its statement, the chain said business at its stores would continue as normal while the court investigated its situation,

36.   Major department store chains said they had stopped selling Australian beef and were holding up new orders until its safety is guaranteed.

37.   Major supermaket chains said they are facing shortages of artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, lettuce and strawberries.

38.   Nordstrom Inc. sales were disappointing in December, the clothing chain said Friday in warning that fourth-quarter earnings will be below expectations.

39.   Pushing American coffee culture deeper into the land of tea, a Hong Kong restaurant chain said Friday it plans to open Starbucks outlets in southern China.

40.   Several chains said they were planning for increases in demand for poultry and fish.