MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Walmart’s Mexico unit is considering “strategic alternatives” to its operations in Central America, including a sale or a joint venture, the company said on Monday.
Walmart de Mexico, known locally as Walmex, runs about 860 stores in Central America, making up almost a fourth of its footprint.
“We think there can be attractive opportunities for greater growth in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua,” the company said in a statement.
“These alternatives could include, but are not limited to, potential joint ventures, partnerships or strategic alliances, a sale, or other transactions.”
Sales slid at the retailer’s supermarkets in Central America during severe pandemic lockdown measures, but in the third quarter last year each country logged an increase in same-store sales, led by Honduras.
Walmex in Central America operates discount stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse stores and wholesale-price membership stores.
(Reporting by Mexico City Newsroom; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Mark Porter)
