The retail giant has selected 12 regional SMEs manufacturing innovative products at reasonable prices, who will have the opportunity to offer their products in stores belonging to the chain.
About 12 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Central America were chosen within the program of corporate social responsibility " Una mano para crecer”(Give a hand in order to grow) to be suppliers of Walmart stores in Central America and Mexico, and the stores of the Despensa de don Juan, Maxi-Despensas and Despensa Familiar.
31 Salvadoran entrepreneurs presented their products to Wal-Mart executives, at the Business Round organized by the multi-national company.
The event “Business Round” is part of Wal-Mart’s program “A hand to grow.” Claudia de Ibáñez, Manager of Corporate Affairs for Wal-Mart Central America, commented to Laprensagrafica.com that “something that is worth underlining is that the support of family businesses stimulates job growth.
The produce division at Wal-Mart is looking for fruit and vegetable producers from El Salvador to supply its supermarkets in that country.
Hortifruti’s goal is to increase the proportion of agricultural products cultivated by Salvadoran farmers. Currently, just 30% of the agricultural products sold by Wal-Mart are from local producers, and the goal is to increase that proportion to 40%.