Walmart de Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico
Comercial Mexicana S.A. (Comerci), one of Mexico's largest retail chains, was faced with a serious dilemma. Since Wal-Mart's aggressive entry into the Mexican retail market, Comerci has found it increasingly difficult to remain competitive. Wal-Mart's strong operating presence and low prices since NAFTA's lifting of tariffs have put pressure on Comerci, and now management must decide if it can improve Comerci's competitive position by remaining independent or by merging with either a local or foreign retailer. Which raises one question that needs to be answered: What has caused this intense competitive pressure on Comerci, and what is likely to be its future? Mexico's retail sector has benefited greatly from the increasing trade liberalizing the government has been pushing. After decades of protectionism, Mexico joined GATT in 1986 to help open its economy to new markets. In 1990, with Mexico's economy on the upswing and additional free trade negotiations with United States and Canada taking place, the founder of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton, met with the president of Cifra, Mexico's leading retail store. Their meeting resulted in a 50/50 joint venture in the opening of Mexico's first Sam's Clubs, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart, in 1991 in Mexico City. It only took a couple of months after the opening to prove the store's success. The Mexico City Sam's Club started to brake all of the U.S. records for Sam's Club. The joint venture evolved to incorporate all new stores, and by 1997, Wal-Mart purchased enough shares to have controlling interest in Cifra. In 2000, it changed the name to Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and the ticker symbol to WALMEX. Prior to 1990, Wal-Mart had never made moves to enter Mexico or any country other than the United States. Once Wal-Mart started growing Mexico, management created the Wal-Mart international division in 1993. The company has expanded into internationally to nine countries through new-store construction and
Comercial Mexicana S.A. (Comerci), one of Mexico's largest retail chains, was faced with a serious dilemma. Since Wal-Mart's aggressive entry into the Mexican retail market, Comerci has found it increasingly difficult to remain competitive. Wal-Mart's strong operating presence and low prices since NAFTA's lifting of tariffs have put pressure on Comerci, and now management must decide if it can improve Comerci's competitive position by remaining independent or by merging with either a local or foreign retailer. Which raises one question that needs to be answered: What has caused this intense competitive pressure on Comerci, and what is likely to be its future? Mexico's retail sector has benefited greatly from the increasing trade liberalizing the government has been pushing. After decades of protectionism, Mexico joined GATT in 1986 to help open its economy to new markets. In 1990, with Mexico's economy on the upswing and additional free trade negotiations with United States and Canada taking place, the founder of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton, met with the president of Cifra, Mexico's leading retail store. Their meeting resulted in a 50/50 joint venture in the opening of Mexico's first Sam's Clubs, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart, in 1991 in Mexico City. It only took a couple of months after the opening to prove the store's success. The Mexico City Sam's Club started to brake all of the U.S. records for Sam's Club. The joint venture evolved to incorporate all new stores, and by 1997, Wal-Mart purchased enough shares to have controlling interest in Cifra. In 2000, it changed the name to Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and the ticker symbol to WALMEX. Prior to 1990, Wal-Mart had never made moves to enter Mexico or any country other than the United States. Once Wal-Mart started growing Mexico, management created the Wal-Mart international division in 1993. The company has expanded into internationally to nine countries through new-store construction and
Bibliography: www.walmartstores.com www.wright.edu/~tdung/Walmart_in_mexico www.shibuimarkets.com/company/walmart_de_mexico