Wal-Mart to invest $1bn in Brazil

by World_Groove | August 13, 2008 at 07:36 pm

459 views | 0 Recommendations | 5 comments

Under development

Attack of the big box store "You will be assimilated"

It says something when during scary economic times in the world a company lays out a Billion Dollar expenditure.

The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, says it will invest some $1.1bn (£588m) to expand in Brazil.

The firm said it would open between 80 and 90 stores in 2009 in Latin America's largest country.

It will take years to fully understand how this move will effect the economy in Brazil.

Brazil's economy has expanded in recent months thanks in part to more affordable consumer credit and rising incomes.

Even as retailers are feeling the pinch of a slowdown in the US, many are counting on stronger growth in developing markets in places such as China, Russia and Brazil.

The big just keep getting bigger......

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BruceC

at 08:12 on August 14th, 2008

Wal-mart has helped a lot of poor people around the world. They keep their margins low and provide everything people need. They provide good retail jobs compared to most firms too.

World_Groove

at 09:39 on August 14th, 2008

True enough, I know many people that have been helped by Wal-mart both in jobs and through purchasing power. I also know a few owners of business in small towns who had to shut their doors.

It is always worth considering that sometimes something is good in the short term and bad in the long run.

A medication prescribed can help cure an illness, but if taken beyond the illness it becomes an addiction.

René

at 09:49 on August 14th, 2008

Brazil should ban Wal-Mart or they will face a landslide of small business failures. I feel sorry for them if they let this happen to them. A few good deeds do not make up for the immense business losses the Brazilians will face if Wal-Mart 'assimilates' Brazil.

bill hicks

at 10:05 on August 14th, 2008

The other side of the story though is the people go to walmart because of prices. I lived in Costa Rica for a while. Prices in regular grocery stores were real high until Walmart bought them out. The people gain. In states where they passed laws to make walmart comply with higher standards because of populist beliefs that walmart is anti-worker, they found out walmart already complied and even surpassed the requirements. What the real issus is: Walmart does not support gays. They are not anti-gay but unlike Target they do not make a specific effort to give donations to gay promoting organizations. That is why Target can own an FDIC bank and Walmart cannot. Barney Franks agenda?

Karenkkkkkkk (not verified)

at 23:03 on June 12th, 2009

Well Wal-Mart has helped people in many ways. I worked at a DC for Wal-Mart unless you have worked at a Wal-Mart location than well let's just say I had a much better veiw of Wal-Mart before I worked for them. I did for quite a few years. About 2 months into that my views of Wal-Mart changed considerably. No matter how much I tried to believe in the company it was in my face all the time that there are two sides to Wal-Mart. Stores I do not know nor do I plan to ever know I no longer shop at Wal-Mart.