Wal-Mart Takes Over the World

Wal-Mart takes over the world
Giant changing the face of retailing, one country at a time


It isn’t ironic that a country that tries so hard to shove multi-culturalism down your throat is the same one that has a retail giant that is bullying its way into all corners of the world.

"Country by country, the world is discovering the great value of shopping at Wal-Mart. We need to be the growth of Wal-Mart when some day the United States slows down." This is how John Menzer, head of U.S. store operations, explains Wal-Mart’s expansion overseas.

Already, they have retail stores operating in Mexico (774 units), Puerto Rico (54 units), Canada (263 units), Argentina (11 units), Brazil (295 units), China (56 units), Germany (88 units), South Korea (16 units), United Kingdom (315 units), Costa Rica (124 units), El Salvador (57 units), Guatemala (120 units), Honduras (32 units) and Nicaragua (30 units). During 2005, Wal-Mart started its move into India.

A current online unscientific survey, that asks people whether they like this or hate it, is running 2 to 1 against it.

I don’t like it for various reasons. For one, this giant is bullying its way into many of these countries and overtaking local stores. The local stores that remain cannot compete with the powerful mega store. Wal-Mart is exporting the worst side of consumerism throughout the world.

I think it’s a shame that many countries are starting lose their sense of identity by letting the likes of Coca Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s and now Wal-Mart. I’m glad to see that Italy, has not buckled under to Wal-Mart’s pressure, and hope that they never will.

Some American tourists take solace in feeling at home by finding a McDonald’s adjacent to the Eiffel Tower but I think it’s a huge eyesore. When I travel to Europe, I don’t want to feel like I’m in Topeka, Kansas. I don’t want to live in a Wal-Mart world.