The German Grocers Association has warned small retailers will go out of business if food prices continue to spiral downwards as bigger players step up the price war to gain market share. The association's managing director Gerd Haerig blamed Wal-Mart for setting the ball rolling by slashing prices on basic goods and forcing competitors to follow suit. Wal-Mart is aiming to achieve a 20% market share in Germany by 2003, an expansionist strategy that has angered the unions as well as the retail lobby. {{NEWS }}