After struggling for years in Germany, Wal-Mart is discovering that its formula for success struggles in cultures not wholly dependent on the automobile.
"Three days after Wal-Mart Stores announced that it would pull out of Germany, Roland Kögel was wandering through the aisles of a somewhat threadbare Wal-Mart in a strip mall in this western German city.
'Why are they giving up now?' he asked. 'They have good prices and a good variety of products.'
Yet Mr. Kögel, 54, confessed that he never bought groceries at Wal-Mart. Food is cheaper at German discount chains. He also does not visit this store often, because it is on the edge of town and he does not own a car. His one purchase for the day was tucked under his arm: a neck pillow.
Shoppers like Roland Kögel help explain why Wal-Mart raised the white flag in Germany, the site of the company’s first foray into Europe."
Read the full story: Wal-Mart Finds That Its Formula Doesn’t Fit Every Culture
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