Wall-Mart in Hot Water in Mexico

Local and U.S. activists had gone up in arms against the expansion of Wal-Mart in their community claiming that it will take business from small retailers. The company had claimed it had opened more discount outlets, a Sam’s Club, two restaurants and a clothing store in Mexico and that will bring the companies chain to a total of 870 in the particular country. The main opposition seems to stem from fear that some of the locations that were considered historical places will be infiltrated by Wal-Mart. Some of the historical locations mentioned were Comitan, Juchitan, in Oaxaca, in Patzcuaro and according to the organizers, these locations are considered historic. A spokesman for the company said it would contribute benefits for the consumers as well as its presence in these locations would generate traffic. The activists encouraged the local buyers to choose local businesses over Wal-Mart.