Líder (Spanish for ''Leader'') is a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

hypermarket A hypermarket (sometimes called a hyperstore, supercentre or superstore) is a big-box store combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including ...

chain originally owned and operated by Distribución y Servicio (DyS) but sold to US American corporation

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...

in 2009.Chile Wal-Mart affiliate D&S year profit tumbles
by Manuel Frias, Reuters, 27-02-2009, access date 27-02-2009Nuestra Historia
Líder.cl, access date 27-02-2009

Overview

There are 251 Líders in the Republic of Chile including the original hypermarket (97) in addition to the express (154) concepts complemented by the Lider.cl website. The stores sell groceries, home electronics, school supplies, toys, tools and home supplies. Most also have a small indoor

strip mall A strip mall, strip center or strip plaza is a type of shopping center common in North America where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front. ...

, usually featuring fast food.

History

Líder's origins lie in the 1893 establishment of Distribución y Servicio (D y S) as an important distribution company. That company opened the Tres Montes general store in 1921. In 1957, the company opened Latin America's first supermarket in Santiago, Chile followed by the opening Ekono a discount supermarket in 1984. In 1995, the Líder hypermarket was born and was followed by the Líder Vecino neighborhood markets and Líder Express concepts in 2000 and 2003 respectively. The company added a membership warehouse store in 2007.Wal-Mart's Entry Into Chile Market Threatens Cuban Rum
by Pascale Bonnefoy, January 22, 2007, Global Post/The Huffington Post, access date 27-02-2009 The company was acquired by Walmart in 2009. Walmart purchased a 58.3% share in the D y S company with the remainder in the hands of the Ibáñez Scott brothers.
Associated Press, 23-02-2009, access date 27-02-2009 In addition to this Walmart has followed up with an offer to purchase the remaining stock from the brothers. The company divested from any

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

n products like

rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Rum is produced in nearly every sugar-producing region of the world, such as the Ph ...

due to the embargo on Cuban products between the United States and any American company or subsidiary causing a consumer outcry and legal hurdle for Walmart since this violates Chilean free market and competition laws. Líder stores began selling Cuban products in addition to products from countries banned in the United States at half price to eliminate them from stock before the merger was complete. This caused a buying frenzy of Cuban rum that made headlines. This also caused an uproar from the public that was accustomed to certain products from certain countries. The largest retailing in the country no longer importing certain goods will certainly raise the price. Competitor Jumbo was inspired to begin a publicity campaign that they did not discriminate in their product selection by nationality. In fact, several members of the National Congress of Chile wrote a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate merchandise by country of origin. The Chilean authorities have stated that individual companies have wide latitude in determining what products they do and do not sell and why, however some in congress have insisted this move violates fair competition laws. All Líder stores are

unionized A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

and offer full benefits. The takeover by Walmart has made union leaders anxious due to Walmart's reputation for

union busting Union busting is a range of activities undertaken to disrupt or prevent the formation of trade unions or their attempts to grow their membership in a workplace. Union busting tactics can refer to both legal and illegal activities, and can range ...

. Líder stores also employ

child labor Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such e ...

, bagging groceries; they must however be in school, according to the Labor Code. The company competes with Cencosud's Jumbo and Santa Isabel supermarkets, SMU's Unimarc, as well as the smaller Tottus.Living In Chile, Retail Planet

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lider Hypermarkets Walmart Retail companies established in 1995 Retail companies of Chile Supermarkets of Chile 1995 establishments in Chile 2009 mergers and acquisitions