Wal-Mart to open Hispanic-Focused Supermarkets

[jmt225]

Retail giant Wal-Mart (WMT) will open its first Hispanic-focused supermarkets 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. So instead of apple pies and hamburger buns; get ready for Latino pastries and tortillas.

Now that the sales boost from penny-pinching consumers is peaking, it’s nice to see the company ramping up capital investment plans in search of new sources of growth. Prior to the recession, the company was focused on revamping existing locations with sushi bars and faux-wood floors. Besides the multi-cultural efforts, Wal-Mart is pushing forward on its Marketside convenience store concept.

It appears that the "consumer trade-down" investment theme is over, as shares have come under pressure since the beginning of the year. There are rising concerns that the Obama Administration’s support of the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act will likely translate into much higher labor costs across the company’s U.S. store base. Earlier this week leaders in both the House and the Senate introduced the legislation, so things are moving forward. If passed, the Act would allow employees to unionize if a simple majority wanted to join the union -- waiving the requirement for a secret ballot election that takes place up to 50 days after employees petition for representation.

Citigroup analysts downgraded the stock this week on these concerns. The obvious outcome for Wal-Mart is higher hourly wages, increased benefits, and decreased scheduling flexibility. As a result, the retailer will likely be forced to raise prices to protect margins -- undermining the company’s main competitive advantage.

In anticipation of rising costs associated with a unionized workforce, Wal-Mart is looking to grow the top-line by opening its powerful supply chain to new markets. From Hispanic shoppers to inner city vegans, a wider swath of the population will soon benefit from the company’s massive scale. Also worth mentioning is the push into retail health care services. But these are long-term growth stories. In the near-term, investors will continue to be pressured by the negative sentiment surrounding the card-check legislation.

Does this bother you?

I've seen a lot of people bitch about this, but I honestly don't see the big deal. To me it's just good business by Wal-Mart. But people seem to be literally outraged at Wal-Mart for doing this and I have no idea why. I mean, I keep seeing people say "Mexicans need to learn the English language, blah blah blah". But they say that like it's fucking easy to learn a second language. It's hard, and while the Mexican population continuously grows here in the States, I say it's good that they get some catering to. All of them will learn enough English to get by within a couple of years of living here, but before they can do that, what’s the big deal of them having some stores of their own?

I don't know.. I just put myself in their shoes and if I was living in another country that didn't speak my language, it would be nice to have a couple of stores that dealt with people who spoke English. That’s the way I look at it.

But what do you think? Think this is unnecessary? Does this make you mad, for whatever reason? I'd love to hear why if so, because right now I don't understand the hate Wal-Mart is getting for doing this.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Apparently there's now a Domino's Pizza that only uses Halal meat. From what I remember somebody like myself wouldn't be served in there. I don't care, mostly because I don't eat pizza. But I wouldn't be impressed if I got turned away from the place.

But I'm generally of the opinion that you should adapt to the country you are in and live by their rules. Mostly I'm referring to learining the language and such.

As for the Wal-Mart place, why can't they just go to a regular one? Maybe they should get rid of any non aryan staff in those regular Wal-Mart stores now.

 

[FromTheSouth]

I live in a city where the white and Hispanic are equal, and over all in the area, the Hispanic population is greater than that of the white people. That being said, I have been assimilated into their culture my whole life, and I honestly don't see much of an effort on the part of the Hispanic culture around to assimilate to mine. Many of the kids speak English, but far less of the parents. They move to this area because they don't need to learn English. The problem is, when white people come around, there is a lot of snickering when we don't know Spanish. This is FUCKING America. I don't need to learn it, although I should.

I hate this idea of catering to a group of people who refuse to assimilate into American culture. I don't fault Wal-Mart for this. They are marketing to a growing demographic that is gaining in purchasing power. I just wish it wasn't necessary. If I moved to Mexico, the first thing I would do is learn the language. I wouldn't seek out a community of white people to hide in amongst the natives.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

Does this bother you?

Yes. But not in such a bad light that makes me out to be some type of "Mega Racist".

It bothers me, because America gets criticized by almost every single other Country, for trying to force our ways upon every other culture and Country, yet we technically aren't. (without starting a war in the process, anyways)

However, in return, the only people who complain about "foreigners" coming into America and trying to force us into accepting their cultures and changing to accommodate their desires and Country's ways.. are those who're actually from America.

In other words, Americans get looked down upon for not "opening our arms" to those from another Country. Yet at the same time, when we go into another Country and try to do something we're used to, we still get shunned for it. Why?

I've seen a lot of people bitch about this, but I honestly don't see the big deal. To me it's just good business by Wal-Mart.

First and foremost, it's not "good business" for Wal*Mart, it's smart and sneaky business for Wal*Mart. They're capitalizing on a race in specific areas where that race is heavily populated. They don't give a shit what color your skin is, or what language you speak. They don't care if white's, black's, mexican's, oriental's, or anyone else buys from their Company.. as long as they're buying something from them, in general.

In the very article you posted, apparently these stores are only opening where there are heavy "traffic" areas with Hispanics. So clearly, Wal*Mart isn't caring about the overall Hispanic population, otherwise these stores would be opening right next door to every other regular Wal*Mart or Super Wal*Mart there is now.

But people seem to be literally outraged at Wal-Mart for doing this and I have no idea why. I mean, I keep seeing people say "Mexicans need to learn the English language, blah blah blah". But they say that like it's fucking easy to learn a second language. It's hard, and while the Mexican population continuously grows here in the States, I say it's good that they get some catering to. All of them will learn enough English to get by within a couple of years of living here, but before they can do that, what’s the big deal of them having some stores of their own?

Not to sound offensive in saying this.. but if you can't take the time to learn the regular language of the Country you're going to attempt residing in for a long period of time.. then you need to rethink moving.

On a personal note, I'm wanting to learn multiple new languages because it's just an overall great thing to know.

But also on this personal note, I'd never consider moving to places like France, Russia, Germany or Mexico, unless I knew how to speak the language more so than to just get by with a few phrases..

I don't know.. I just put myself in their shoes and if I was living in another country that didn't speak my language, it would be nice to have a couple of stores that dealt with people who spoke English. That’s the way I look at it.

That's just it. When I attempted to do this, I discovered that it is incredibly easy to get everything handed to you, more so than having to work or do a damn thing. Why? Because you're "new", because you don't apparently understand anything. Because it's understandably hard to be out of the culture you grew up in all your life. So in a lot of situations, you get a lot of people willing to do everything for you.. just to make "the small things" seem easier, because to us, it's easy anyways.

So bottomline.. why would any of them want to learn how to properly speak the language of this Country, when they could get by so much easier with merely pawning it off as if they just got here and are still in the process of learning it?

Again, I in NO WAY, SHAPE, or FORM mean any of this to be offensive.. because I accept and understand if you seriously did just move here, it's going to be rough, it's going to be hard, and you're going to likely be scared.

However.. I've had run-in situations, with foreigners who've lived within this Country for well beyond 5-8 years.. and still claim to not understand the simplest of terms. All because "not understanding" is the best way to get you out of any responsibility or trouble, especially if you're foreigner to 'said' Country. (this works for American's in foriegn Countries as well)

But what do you think? Think this is unnecessary? Does this make you mad, for whatever reason? I'd love to hear why if so, because right now I don't understand the hate Wal-Mart is getting for doing this.

I don't "hate" anything, and I don't even "dislike" the situation. ON a personal level.. I'm fine with these stores opening up, because of two very solid reasons.

1. If anything, having a Hispanic store will likely negate any miscommunication issues that most Hispanics would encounter from an American employee.

2. It creates even MORE job opportunities. Hispanics would be in large supply to want to work for a "self-race" Store, which means they'd leave the current "regular" store and that'd open up the opportunity for more people (not Hispanics, persay) who're out of work.. to find work.

But on the flip side, regarding Wal*Mart.. again, I'm not upset at them doing this in an effort to help out. But I can't say I respect the Company as a whole, because I know the Company from being a higher-up Employee under it. And their motto is almost literally.. "Take what you can get, always strive to gain more, never give up until you've taken all you can."

Again, if they'd open these types of stores ALL across the nation, because Hispanics are in large groups, everywhere and not just Arizona & Texas, then it'd be Wal*Mart trying to help.. and not just trying to find a bigger traffic area to rape from.

 

[RVDgurl]

The Walmart in my city already has all the signs in the store in both english and spanish and does some of the loud speaker annoucements in spanish. My town is about 50% hispanic so it makes sense. It has to be a good business decision if the area where the store is being built is largely made up of hispanic people.

I'm really not sure how anyone can have a problem with this. The US doesn't have an official language so it's really kind of difficult to make a case for everyone needing to know the English language.

 

[secret titan]

The only problem I have with this is that I as an American have to accommodate to immigrants coming here. Most countries don't do it, why should we have to? Like others have said, if you move to a country, learn the language.

I guess it won't really matter in the future anyway, we are becoming minorities in our own country.


Back to the Wal-Mart topic. As a business, it's a great move.

 

[HBK-aholic]

I agree with the general consensus of it being a smart business move by WalMart. However, I agree even more strongly with those saying why? They should learn the language. "It's hard to learn a second language" - well then don't move to a country where that would be needed. Seriously, it's annoying. Immigrants should adapt to the place they move to, not vice versa.

 

[jmt225]

Okay, so you're poor as all hell, live in a VERY shitty place like most of Mexico is, and you move to the states to make a better life for you and your family. What's the first thing you're going to do? Learn the language, or find a way to get a job? Simple answer. And if you know what kind of work these Mexicans do when they move hear and the amount they get paid to do it, you can't blame them for A) not spending money on a class to learn to speak English and B) having more, important concerns on their plate then learning our language. They'll eventually learn enough to get by, while their kids will know the language perfectly within 2 to 3 years.

The fact is that there is no way for these people to learn the English language before they come here, and by the time they finally do arrive, they have more important matters to attend to. You can't blame them for that. And I'm just sympathetic to what they face everyday here in America and I respect them for giving their children an opportunity at a decent life, rather then having them rot away in that shithole across the Texas boarder.

 

[FromTheSouth]

The Walmart in my city already has all the signs in the store in both english and spanish and does some of the loud speaker annoucements in spanish. My town is about 50% hispanic so it makes sense. It has to be a good business decision if the area where the store is being built is largely made up of hispanic people.

I'm really not sure how anyone can have a problem with this. The US doesn't have an official language so it's really kind of difficult to make a case for everyone needing to know the English language.

To gain legal citizenship, one must complete a basic English test. Students who can't speak English are required to pass ESL to graduate. Putting Los Supermercado de Walmart in border states kind of condones illegal immigration. I just think that with the drug wars in Mexico, these are less that 200 miles from me, among other security risks, business should be making less of an effort to make life easier for those who want to come here illegally.

I want as many people here as we can fit, but I want them all accounted for.