Central America
In September of 2005, Walmart acquired more than a 33 percent interest in Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO) from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In March 2006, we increased our interest to 51 percent and the CARHCO name became Walmart Centroamérica. We are the region’s largest retailer, with stores in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The current President and CEO of Walmart Centroamérica is Marcos Samaha. Our Centroamérica headquarters are located in San Jose, Costa Rica and Guatemala City, Guatemala. For more information, please visit http://walmart-centroamerica.com. CommunityWe are proud to support the communities we serve and in 2008 raised and contributed more than US$1.5 million. 
In April 2008, La Despensa de Don Juan stores in El Salvador launched the "I Take Care of My Planet" recycling campaign. Customers donate goods to be recycled and proceeds go to local public schools. The program continues to expand as we help educate students about recycling. In 2008, we contributed about US$345,000 to more than 69 local non-profit organizations through store and home office grant programs in Costa Rica. Customers in Guatemala helped raise US$140,000 through the Dulce Ayuda campaign (Sweet Help) to benefit the Aldo Castaneda Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides medical treatment and surgery to underprivileged children suffering from heart malformations. For six weeks, customers donated the change from their purchases paid in cash. This allowed the Foundation to complete the purchase of an echocardiography machine, which is vital for diagnosing cardiac malformations in children. Through the Honduran Foundation for Children with Cancer, we sponsored 165 children in 2008. The Foundation provides free treatment to improve the quality of life for children fighting cancer. In October 2008, we launched a fundraising campaign to donate equipment for the newborn department at Bertha Calderon Women’s Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua. With the donation of medical equipment, we helped efforts to reduce infant mortality. SustainabilityWe recycle 1.5 tons of plastic and 13.96 tons of cardboard per day, an increase of 20 percent and 5 percent, respectively, from 2007. In November 2008, we signed an agreement with El Salvador’s environmental minister to support the program “Green Net.” We will save energy by installing energy-efficient lighting in schools, donate firewood-saving stoves and provide environmental education through recycling campaigns in schools. We began construction of a water treatment plant at Hiper Paiz Puerta Parada, Guatemala that processes sewage in an environmentally friendly way. New stores opening in Honduras, such as the Paiz Proceres supermarket, recycle rainwater by collecting, treating and then using in the stores. Opportunity We support local suppliers through our “A Hand to Grow” program. In March 2008, we coordinated with CONAMYPE (Branch of the Ministry of Economy) to launch a program to support the development of small and medium-sized manufacturers in El Salvador, and in September 2008 we organized the second round. More than 70 companies introduced more than 100 products in selected stores for a 90-day trial period. After the trial period, we evaluate opportunities sell products in more stores.
We also help small local farmers improve their agricultural capacity through our Tierra Fertil program and the Inclusive Market Alliance for Rural Entrepreneurs (IMARE,) a partnership with Mercy Corps, USAID and Fundacion AGIL. By offering funds, technical support and market information, we help farmers grow high quality, competitively priced produce that they can sell at our stores or other retailers. We work with farmers around the country, helping them generate income for hundreds of families and improving the region’s overall quality of life.
Click the links below to add this entry to social networking sites.
|
|
|