Wal-Mart announces growth plans

Progressive Grocer details Wal-Mart's recent growth moves and the plans they've announced for next year, including:

• Taking over majority interest in the 405-store Seiyu chain in Japan
• Buying 140 stores from Sonae in Brazil
• In September, gaining a 33% share in Central American Retail Holdings, including "363 supermarkets and other stores in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica"
• Planning 370 new stores in North America, and
• 230 stores in other geographies