Wal-Mart de Mexico March Sales Rose 10 Percent

Wal-Mart de Mexico SA, the country’s largest mass merchandiser, on April 9 said same-store sales grew 10 percent in March over the same month last year. Same-store sales figures include stores in operation for at least one year.

The increase was far above market expectations, which ranged from an increase of 3 percent to 4 percent.

Total sales were 8.115 billion pesos (about $896 million) up 20.6 percent from March 2001, the company said in a filing to the Mexican Stock Exchange.

Wal-Mart said it opened one Sam’s Club, one Wal-Mart Supercenter, two Bodega stores and two restaurants during the month.

Wal-Mart de Mexico, which is controlled by Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., contributes with about 25 percent of its parent company’s international sales.

Walmex, as the company is also known, operates 516 commercial outlets and restaurants, including Bodega Aurrera, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart Supercenter hypermarkets; the upscale supermarket chain Superama; Suburbia clothing stores and Vips restaurants.