Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is using lessons from its U.S. operations such as multiple store formats and environmental sustainability to help grow its international business, whose sales increased almost 18 percent to $90.6 billion last year.At a media gathering Thursday in advance of the company's shareholders' meeting, Hector Nunez, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Brazil, said the company operates nine different store brands in five different formats in that country, from Maxxi Alacado cash-and-carry stores to Hiper Bompreco "hypermarkets," large stores that combine groceries and general merchandise. "We're focusing on low-income consumers," Nunez said.

The division is also making strides in environmental sustainability, operating two stores in Brazil that have no environmental impact because of their ability to recycle waste. Same-store sales, or sales at stores opened at least a year, in Wal-Mart Brazil's division were up 9.2 percent in its fiscal first quarter.



Craig Herkert, president and CEO of Wal-Mart's America's division, said Wal-Mart Canada is the largest user of renewable energy in that country. The Canada division operates 31 Supercenters, 268 discount stores and six Sam's Club warehouse stores.

"We are taking the best practices and sharing them," Herkert said.

Ignacio Perez, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Central America, which operates 460 stores in the region, said the company is working with local farmers to help them become Wal-Mart's suppliers.

"We are sharing market information and giving them technological support," Perez said.

In Japan, which Wal-Mart entered in 2002 and has found slow-going, Vicente Trius, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Asia, said the company is focusing on its message of everyday low prices, which customers are demanding in a country known for expensive goods and services. Trius also noted that Wal-Mart's Japan division is also focusing on freshness in foods, something that Japanese consumers put at a premium.

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