Walmart: Chile consolidates its position as third largest international market

The company reported a 26% increase in online sales, while the supermarket business grew 7.3% in the year’s first quarter.

Walmart workers in Chile celebrated last March. The Bentonville-based company distributed US$ 25 million in bonuses to employees of its local operations following excellent results. And the retailer’s strong run continues.

The company – which operates Lider, Superbodega Acuenta, Lider Hiper and Central Mayorista – reported its global results in the United States. The corporation’s revenue grew 7.3%, while operating profits increased 5% during the first quarter of 2026.

How important is Chile to Walmart? The country – where the company has announced significant investments, including the construction of a new US$ 200-million distribution center – ended the period with 403 operating stores.

Within Walmart’s international operations, Chile is positioned as the market with the third most stores, only behind Mexico (3,330 stores) and Canada (404). With this, the country surpasses markets including China, South Africa, Costa Rica and Guatemala in terms of store numbers.

According to type of store, the largest number in Chile is the Express format with 160, followed by Superbodega Acuenta with 128, Lider Hiper with 102 and Central Mayorista with 13.

Digital strategy

One of the most notable data points was the growth of eCommerce, which increased by 26% globally. In Chile, Walmart’s digital strategy gained momentum from 2023, when the company integrated its local platform to the United States technological standard, allowing customers to buy international brands and imported products directly from Lider.cl.

The online focus also has a strong small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) component. Nearly 50% of the offer available on Lider.cl comes from SMEs.

Speaking about the report, Walmart CEO John Furner stated, “our results reflect our continued focus on delivering better shopping experiences, a wider selection and faster deliveries. Our teams are adopting innovative technologies, boosting productivity through automation and expanding higher-margin business solutions.”

Walmart achieved revenues of US$ 177.8 billion globally, of which US$ 35.1 billion were contributed by the company’s international subsidiaries. This segment also reported an 18% increase in sales between January and March 2026, and a 23.9% increase in operating profit.

For the 2027 fiscal year, Walmart projects that sales will grow by up to 4.5% and adjusted operating profit will increase by up to 8%.

Source: Forbes Chile.