Another reason to dis-like Wal-Mart
 

Call me old fashion but Wal-Mart is pushing my button on this one........ Wal-Mart is going to open the first Hispanic-focused supermarkets this summer in Arizona and Texas. I guess they will do anything to make an extra buck.

"Wal-Mart goes bilingual - Retail giant Wal-Mart will open its first Hispanic-focused supermarket this summer in Arizona and Texas. The stores will feature Spanish speaking staff and new layouts, products, and signage that will be "relevant to local Hispanic customers."
The stores, dubbed Supermercado de Walmart, will appear in converted Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market stores in Phoenix and Houston. Separately, the company also plans on converting a Sam's Club warehouse into a Hispanic-themed Más Club.
Some of this reflects Wal-Mart's U.S. stores chief Eduardo Castro-Wright's previous experience in the company's Mexican subsidiary. But it also reflects the realization that by 2042, according to the Census Bureau, ethnic and racial minorities will represent a majority of the U.S. population.”

Here is the link for the whole article: http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2009/03/13/wal-mart-goes-bilingual.aspx

There are a huge number of legal American citizens who are Hispanic. Why shouldn't they be able to pay lower prices for their ethnic groceries? Would you outlaw ethnic food? Or does it upset you that the country is getting less Caucasian? Do you expect everyone else to be in denial about this too?

I don't shop at WalMart personally, but that's for other reasons.

I doubt I'd notice the difference.:p

If Nazis took over the U.S. Walmart would be thrilled to cater to them.

Anyone else remember how WalMart was all about "Made in the USA" and how they wrapped themselves in the flag back in the 1990s? Cripes, you'd have sworn WalMart was a cornerstone of American culture just as much as mom, apple pie and baseball if you listened to their advertising/marketing back then...

The pinnacle of fair-weather hypocrisy.

I have never set foot inside a Walmart.

I believe you'll find that the change in Wal-Mart coincided with the death of Sam Walton. He was a good man with principles, and formed his business to reflect that. The family took over and threw those ideals out the window.

+1...don't know if it's the family, or other "hired bean counters", but it isn't Sam's baby anymore.

Sam Walton was a pretty cool guy. When I worked construction, one of my co-workers had family in the Little Rock area, one of which was somehow involved with the construction of Wal-Mart stores. When visiting he was invited to go racoon hunting with some of the locals, one of which drove an older Ford truck and was introduced only as Sam. Sam went hunting with the group and my co-worker didn't think anything of it. When the hunt was over and Sam left, the others let on that Sam was really Sam Walton.

Just an ordinary guy, and I think he honestly created his store to benefit the average American. That's where the now forgotten "Proudly Made in the USA" products came from.

He did drive an older Ford Pick up, and was a good guy.

Smart business move if you ask me. Apparently you have never been to China town in any major city.

If you go, bring this.

(Adding a few hundred shoeless Mexicans would be an upgrade. Seriously)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1237226793.jpg

Back in 1988 when I turned 18 I voted. One of the things on the ballot that I voted for and was passed was that the state language of Florida should be English. I'm afraid that one wouldn't pass in Texas except that the old rednecks would somehow work out for the Hispanic vote to only count for .5 or something.

If you are ever bored in a walmart here is a fun game.

First person to find anything made in America wins. You can easily kill an hour looking.

My husband pointed something out to me that really set me afire the other day (always a risky move in a public place)...

We were in a local store that sells products badged in spanish (for the hispanics) and in english (for the everybody elses). Here's the deal - the products are the same ones, but the one with spanish writing costs less.

Same products, same dates of production, same volume, etc. They only differences: One in English - costs more. The other in Spanish - costs less.

Why is that?

angela

Nope. Enlighten me. Or were you simply suggesting I visit to try the food?SmileWavy

The better question: why would you WANT to kill an hour in Wal-Mart? I try to get the hell out as quick as possible, and I only go for stuff that Target doesn't carry.

Matt, I was just pointing out that Walmart will not be the first person / company to open an ethnic grocery store.

Gotcha. But I hear the food is great.:cool:

why not start selling bogus papers...
wally better put up some German signs..
some poor hausfrau may not find the bratwurst..


Rika

Used to work in one while putting myself through college. After that have been in one less than 10 times in 30 years. The minute Price Club and Costco came in the market that was it.

You guys rant and rave about capitalism and the free market, then b!tch and moan when Walmart wants to take advantage of that to cater to its customer base? Like it's Walmart's fault the borders are porous? <shakes head>

well then why not put a classroom in the store..
that way someone who has lived here for say 20 yrs..
could then venture beyond the local DMV and wally world..
ethnic food so what..don't see no signs for the hausfrau's do you...
it's for the lazy...nothing more.

Rika

When I first saw this story last week, I winced. But then I thought about it for a minute and think it's fine. I regularly shop at ethnic grocery stores. Why would I pay $3.99 for some fresh basil at Albertsons, when the local Vietnamese grocer has it for $.99 and fresher? The local Chinese grocery stores have things you simply can't get at other stores, such as certain spices, live fish, Chinese beer, cooking utensils, etc. In fact, the stuff they have that you can get anywhere else is usually far more expensive at the Chinese store. The Hispanic stores around here still sell Coke, Pepsi and Fanta in glass bottles and made with real sugar cane instead of corn syrup. Why shouldn't Wal-Mart try to tap into this market? Ethinic grocery stores are unbeatable for some things. I'd love to have one that's less than a 30 min. drive from my house.

It will be interesting to see if they sell "real" ethnic foods, or simply re-labeled versions of their regular food.

I've never tried it, but I hear the Mexican pop made with sugar cane is fantastic.

I don't believe folks are complaining about selling of ethnic foods...
it's the spanish signs..
chinese store ..english signs ? doubtful..
poor china man goes to Wally land ..he out of luck bigtime..
everything be spamish or ingles..how come no Chinese..
lots of Chinese here ..
difference ..most can speak & read english..
they made the EFFORT !

Rika

I love the Asian grocery stores. Affordable fresh finfish and shellfish, great noodles and sauces, interesting veggies, lots of bizarre fruit jellos and drinks that the kids like to try. Great selection of live oysters, clams, crabs, lobster. The only thing is that now I'm avoiding frozen fish from China as I'm doubtful about the standards in that industry. The Japanese stores have particularly high quality fish and meat. And where else can you get, say, a pound of chicken hearts, for when you have a hankering for fried chicken hearts? Lately I do most of my grocery shopping at Costco, Trader Joes, and the local asian stores. Spend a lot less time in Safeway and Whole Foods.

You've had it, but it was probably 20-30 yrs. ago when it was sold in every vending machine.

The local Chinese market also sells almond juice in cans by the case, which is soooo awesome and you can't get it anywhere else. Strangely, I've seen some of the best and most obscure east European beers sold at Asian markets. I've not seen Radeberger sold anywhere in the U.S. except for at a local Vietnamese store and it's less than $8 for a six-pack.

Me too! And as for the mexican soda, it rocks. I drink coffee and water, but when I want something else I tend to buy that.

Give them a tast of their own medicine...shop there regularly and speak lots of english. Everytime you see something in spanish, ask the manager to translate. Demand that they speak your language.

I actually have been to a Wal-Mart in China and it was kind of surreal. No one there spoke English and most of the stuff there was made in China except for all the fine hard liquor they had in the cigarette dept.

WM has made a science out of retailing. Every square foot in the store better produce or something else will be there quick. I don't frequent my local store but it was my second stock purchase 25 years ago (BUD was first).
Jim

is it true that minorities will be the majority by 2042?

What is the problem here? They are simply responding to another local grocery store, Fiesta. In Houston, based on population demographics, hispanics are the largest group, exceeding white non-hispanics. They are not a majority yet, just a plurality. So it seems like a smart idea for Walmart to cater to the people that shop in their stores.

Big friggin deal that they opening "bi-lingual" stores, they are bi-lingual already, you may also may find speakers of Mandarin, Farsi, or Tagalog.. Maybe Siamese, even that tick tock "Gods must be crazy" Language......

I can go to a small regional supermarket here in NY, and Spanish is the language you hear spoken.... I can go to the same supermarket in another nearby town, and English is spoken... In either store I can ask question in either Spanish or English.. and be answered in whatever language I asked the question in..

Apparently mountains can be made of the most inconsequential molehills

It has to do with the exchange rate.

Might be that the ones tagging the products are...hispanic? Built in discount...

Oh Great now the Chinese are buying up towns.
We already owe them a gazillion trillion dollars.
LOL

Only if you are HISPANIC.

I dont see a problem. And for some of us small town folk a WM is a DAM fine store.

¡Si usted no puede batirlos, ensámblelos!

























If you can't beat them, join them!

You Wall Mart 'haters' are endlessly amusing.

Stop complaining and get aboard ...buy the stock (about 20 years ago) :p

Annual revenues of 400 billion (exceeds the country of Norway's entire GDP.)
7000 stores worldwide.
Fortune 500, number one spot for six of the last seven years.
Best performing stock in 2008 (up 18 percent)

...you may not want to shop there, you may not like the business model, but ignore those numbers at your own financial peril.