Wal-Mart selling its 85 stores in Germany

[Cannikin]

BERLIN - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday it plans to sell its 85 stores in Germany to rival Metro AG, a move that effectively ends a nearly decade-long effort by the world’s largest retailer to crack the market in Europe’s biggest economy.

Terms were not disclosed, but Wal-Mart said it expects to incur a loss before taxes of about $1 billion related to the deal in its second quarter.

It would be the U.S.-based company’s second international withdrawal this year. Wal-Mart pulled out of the highly competitive South Korean market in May. The retailer is concentrating on expanding in China and Central America.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14073098/

[NewJeffCT]

1. Didn't they recently pull out of the UK, too?

Is there anything we can do similar to Europe in regards to stopping our whole country from becoming Walmartized?

Wal-Mart is the company that has led the charge to manufacture goods in China.

[charlie]

2. And South Korea

just this year.

[ixion]

3. yeah, stop shopping at Wal-Mart

I did, and I've never looked back. :-)

[malaise]

6. The Germans used their ignore button

That always works.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. Probably too late for America.

The reason they couldn't break into the UK and German merkets was because of the market share held by already-established native businesses like Tesco and Aldi (given the costs of retail in Europe, what with VAT & so on, Wal-Mart aren't a compelling alternative to existing discount stores).

[AngryAmish]

9. And Aldi gave us Trader Joe's!

[Kellanved]

12. Funny thing is: Aldi over here is now selling Trader Joe's stuff

Win-Win, I'd say.

[bigbrother05]

11. In the UK, they rebranded as Asda

Use a hook in their ads where they pat their rear pockets (where your wallet is) with a little jingle of the change they've saved. Seems to be reasonably popular and doesn't have to carry the WallyWorld curse.

In Germany, Aldi (now in the US) is very focused on providing value with low prices on a wide range (has most everything you would want from a grocery store plus misc. dry goods, etc.) with limited selection (usually only one or two different brands for any particular product). Mega stores can't beat their price if they have what you need, Germans are very practical with their money when it comes to basics.

[adarling]

7. which also contributes to more pollution from factories

its the butterfly effect :)

[napi21]

5. Europeans aren't intimidated by WM! Here, the US Gov't gives them

anything they want!

[Sherman A1]

8. Anything bad for Wal Mart

is good for the rest of us!

[Swamp Rat]

10. YAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: