Wal-Mart looking at Russian market
No comment on reports of St Petersburg store
Wal-Mart has a team looking at opportunities in Russia, but would not confirm a report that it will open a store next year.
News agency Interfax reported that the world’s biggest retailer could open a supermarket in St. Petersburg in 2005.
The report quoted Vladimir Blank, chairman of the St. Petersburg’s economic development committee, who said: “I have such information, but I’m not ready to talk more in detail about the opening of Wal-Mart.” Interfax also reported that agencies were already recruiting staff for the store.
Wal-Mart would not comment on plans for a store opening, but confirmed that it recently sent a team to look at expansion opportunities in Russia.
Wal-Mart chief executive Lee Scott said in May that the world’s biggest retailer, currently in the UK with Asda as well as in Germany, could envisage having a presence in every country in Europe.
