Between March and April, Walmart opened five new stores of the Palí format, located in Heredia, San José, Alajuela, Cartago and Guanacaste.
The supermarket chain informed that the company invested close to $6.7 million to open these five new stores. With these recent openings, there are now 181 points of sale of the Palí format.
After investing $17 million, Walmart opened a new store to the public on July 10, in the canton of San Pablo, province of Heredia.
This new location becomes the 14th store that the chain will operate under the Walmart format and for the operation of this supermarket, the company will hire 123 people, said the official statement.
In April, the Walmart chain invested nearly $8.5 million in the construction and opening of four new stores in Costa Rica.
The company reported that three sales points operate under the Pali format and are located in Ipis de Goicoechea, Guayabo de Bagaces and Dulce Nombre de Cartago. The other establishment operates under the brand Maxi Pali and is located in Los Guido, Desamparados.
Walmart plans to invest $48 million in Guatemala during 2019, of which $25 million will be used to open new stores and remodel existing ones.
According to information provided by representatives of Walmart, the investment projected for this year in the country will double that invested in 2018, since last year the amount disbursed totaled $24 million.
The chain of wholesale supermarkets Mayca has started operations in a new facility in the capital and is preparing for the opening of another one in Ciudad Quesada, outside the Greater Metropolitan Area.
The newly opened self-service store measures 432 square meters and is situated opposite the National Children's Hospital in San Jose. In relation to the store in Ciudad Quesada, San Carlos, there is still no definite date for its opening.
There has been increased business and new locations opening up, for products and services related to health and personal care.
In Costa Rica, the company Locatel, founded on capital from Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica has invested around $3 million in opening its first outlet in the Momentum Pinares Mall in Curridabat.
The company will offer the public medical equipment, hygiene and beauty products, nutritional products, and health services.
Under the "Pali" brand, Wal-Mart inaugurated supermarkets in Coto Brus, Puerto Viejo de Limón and Nandayure, Guanacaste.
With these three new stores opened in June, Wal-Mart now has 127 "Pali" stores in Costa Rica.
From La Prensa Libre´s website: "Each now opening generates direct jobs in the communities,... These three new stores will have convenience products, apparel, groceries, butcher's shop, as well as personal care and general merchandise".
The supermarket chain is plannning to open 22 stores during 2009 in Central America, generating about 1,000 job openings.
The press release published by Siglo 21 on its website states: "In a year when the region's economic environment is showing itself to be extremely challenging, this level of growth and investment demonstrates the company's commitment to the welfare of Central American families, with a greater operating efficiency that will allow it to continue offering the lowest prices to its customers."