Wal-Mart Opens Export Office

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2003 4:35 PM

H-1B and JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

Remember when WalMart used to make a big deal in their advertising
about only buying and selling "Made in the USA"? They sure don't say
that anymore.

Now they have a new PR campaign that says they are exporting "Made in
the USA" products to their overseas stores. Items to be exported from
the U.S. include popcorn and laundry detergent.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WAL_MART_EXPORTS?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=BUSINESS

Retailer Wal-Mart Opens Export Office

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Wal-Mart Stores is getting into the export
business.

The world's largest retailer announced the formation Friday of an
office, which it says could make it easier to get U.S.-manufactured
products into its stores overseas. The of GP USA Export office is as a
branch of Wal-Mart Global Procurement, formed last year.

Wal-Mart's stores outside the U.S. - totaling nearly 1,300 - create a
global market for American made products, said Ken Eaton, Wal-Mart's
senior vice president for global procurement.

"We know that many products made in the United States are already
popular with Wal-Mart customers in these countries, products ranging
from popcorn to laundry detergent," Eaton said. "We think there is a
growing market for U.S. exports in the other markets where we operate,
and we are excited about the opportunities this new office will
create."

Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz said the company will work with its
suppliers and that for products it decides to market in overseas
stores, Wal-Mart will handle logistics and regulatory matters that
exporters normally have to deal with. Those matters can be significant
barriers to getting U.S. products into consumers' hands in other
countries.

Joseph Zodl, who teaches international business at the University of
Phoenix, said that support could be an incentive for producers to enter
a market that a manufacturer had previously avoided because of concerns
that it would involve too much effort and expense.

The new office could also give Wal-Mart "an edge in new products that
other stores don't have" in foreign markets, Zodl said.

In the United States, Wal-Mart operates more than 3,390 stores of
various varieties, including Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club
warehouse stores. Internationally, the company operates about 1,275
units.

Help to Keep ZaZona.com Online

Donate to the Cause at
http://www.zazona.com/Donations.htm
To Subscribe or Unsubcribe send an email to

Back to archives