Guatemalmart?

Wal-Mart moves into Guatemala

Guatemala City (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is expanding in Central America through a partnership with a Guatemalan supermarket operator, sources close to the local company said on Monday.

Wal-Mart is buying 33 percent of Central America Retail Holding Corp., which runs two supermarket chains with a total of 250 stores, for an undisclosed amount, the sources said.

Its executives are expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday to announce the deal.

This month Wal-Mart reached a deal to purchase the assets from the Dutch firm Royal Ahold, which has divested Latin American businesses to focus on Europe and the United States, the sources said.

The Guatemalan Paiz family, which owns a major supermarket chain of the same name, had signed a joint venture agreement in 1999 with Royal Ahold , and two years later the United Supermarkets Corporation of Costa Rica joined to form the Central America Retail Holding Corp.

Wal-Mart's Mexico unit, Walmex has grown to become the nation's No. 1 retailer in the past decade, with more than 700 stores and restaurants.