Walmart
... and become involved in the local community. Associates respond to customer needs, merchandise preferences and local suppliers. By serving each hometown in the same way, Wal-Mart International has realized significant growth with potential for much greater development worldwide. In 2004, Wal-Mart International plans to open 130 to 140 units in existing markets. Relocations or expansion of existing stores will account for approximately 30 of these units, while the remainder will represent new operating units for the company. Wal-Mart Argentina started its operations in August 1995 with the opening of a SAM'S CLUB in Avellaneda, in the greater Buenos Aires area. Today, Wal-Mart operates 11 Supercenters and one distribution center in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Entre Rios, Santa Fe, Mendoza and Neuquen. The company employs over 4,000 associates in Argentina. The Web site can be accessed at http://www.wal-mart.com.ar/nuevo/index2.php Wal-Mart Brazil began operations in May 1995 when a SAM'S CLUB opened in São Caetano do Sul, metropolitan area of São Paulo. In the past seven years, Wal-Mart Brazil has opened 16 Wal-Mart Supercenters, 11 SAM'S CLUB and 2 Todo Dias and 118 Bompreco units. Wal-Mart Brazil also employs around 28,000 associates. In March 2004, Wal-Mart Brazil announced the acquisition of Bompreco, a retail chain in northeastern Brazil with 118 units. Bompreco is the leading supermarket and hypermarket chain in Brazil's northeast region, present in nine states across the region. Bompreco operates a number of different formats including Hiper Bompreco hypermarkets ranging in size between 4,000 and 12,500 square meters and offering 45,000 lines and Bompreco supermarkets, with a sales area of up to 3,200 square meters and offering around 10,000 lines. Bompreco also operates mini-markets and Balaio discount stores, as well as a small number of 'Hiper Magazine' stores. The Web site can be accessed at http://www.walmartbrasil.com.br Wal-Mart entered Canada in 1994 with the acquisition of 122 Woolco stores. The company currently operates 235 discount department stores and 6 SAM'S CLUBS and employs more than 60,000 associates across Canada. Each discount store houses more than 70,000 products and a wide range of specialty services. The first SAM'S CLUBS opened in October 2003.The Web site can be accessed at http://www.walmartcanada.ca. Wal-Mart first entered China in August 1996 with the opening of its first Supercenter and SAM'S CLUB in Shenzhen. As a harbinger of China economic reform and the fastest growing coastal city in China, Shenzhen proved to be the best location for Wal-Mart investment. Seven years later, Wal-Mart now has 34 Supercenters, 3 Sam’s Clubs and 2 Neighborhood Markets. The company employs more than 20,000 associates. The company has Supercenters in Shenzhen (8), Dalian (2), Xiamen (2), Fuzhou (2), Dongguan (1), Shantou (1), Shenyang (2), Kunming (3) , Harbin (1), Changchun (3), Changsha (1), Nanchang (1), Qingdao (1), Jinan (1), Tianjin (2), Nanjing (1), Nanning (1), Guiyang (1) and Sam’s Clubs in Shenzhen (1), Fuzhou (1), Beijing (1), and Neighborhood Markets in Shenzhen (2). The Web site can be accessed at www.wal-martchina.com In January 1998, Wal-Mart acquired 21 Wertkauf hypermarkets in Germany. Later that same year, the company acquired 74 units of the Interspar hypermarket chain. Wal-Mart has since invested in the remodeling of these stores and today operates 92 Supercenters in Germany. Wal-Mart Germany employs more than 13,000 associates across the country. The Web site can be accessed at www.walmartgermany.de. In 2002, Wal-Mart purchased a minority interest in The Seiyu, Ltd. a leading Japanese retailer. Today, Wal-Mart holds a 37.8% stake in the company. Seiyu operates over 400 supermarkets in Japan and employs 30,000 associates. The Web site can be accessed at www.the-seiyu.com. Wal-Mart entered Korea in July 1998 through its acquisition and conversion of four Makro stores. Today, Wal-Mart Korea employs more than 3,000 associates and operates 16 Supercenters lo...