Hola Gual-Mart, que Onda?!

Recognizing that the hispanic population is soaring in the southwestern US, Wal-mart plans to open Latino Markets in Arizona and Texas.

The pilot stores, named Supermercado de Walmart, will open in Phoenix and Houston in remodelled 39,000 sq ft locations occupied previously by two of Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market stores.

The retailer chose stores in “strongly Hispanic neighbourhoods” to remodel. Signage and product assortment designed to be relevant to local Hispanic customers”. The staff will all be bilingual.

Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club warehouse store also plans to open a 143,000 sq ft Hispanic-focused store called Más Club in Houston this year.

Several leading regional US supermarket chains already operate Hispanic store brands, including Publix in Florida, which operates three Publix Sabor markets, and HEB in Texas, which opened a Mi Tienda store in Houston in 2006.

Mas Goya y Juanes, que buenissimo!