Wal-mart is about to announce a 1 billion pound takeover of the Matalan chain, according to reports in the corporate financial press:
 http://news.google.com/news?q=wal-mart+matalan

This week it was announced that their existing UK operation, still selling under the name "Asda", is now the largest clothing retailer in the UK. Stop in an Asda sometime, and have a look at the signage and the carrier bags: it now reads "Asda: Part of the Wal-Mart family." Aww. Pass the bucket.

Now Wal-Mart are performing yet more takeovers in Europe, since there's no room in the market here for them to actually open stores of their own.

Why should anti-capitalists care about this? Because since they're now the world's biggest corporation, Wal-Mart is even worse than smaller capitalist chains. They make 220 billion dollars a year, more than the total annual revenues of some developed countries. They dominate their markets completely, making it impossible for smaller shops to compete. They aggressively bust unions with the crudest tactics imaginable, and keep their staff wages and conditions at rock bottom. They've been prosecuted several times for illegal working practices even in the USA, which is hardly known for its commitment to labour rights. They use their huge size and logistical power to source from the cheapest sweatshops around the world, and muscle their suppliers into submission.

Of the ten richest people in the world, five are Waltons--the ruling family of the Wal-Mart empire. S. Robson Walton is ranked by London's "Rich List 2001" as the wealthiest human on the planet, having sacked up more than 65 billion dollars in personal wealth, even more than Bill Gates of Microsoft.

What can be done about this? Boycotts? Or something a bit more direct?

 http://www.andyrowell.com/articles/suckers_walmart.html
 http://www.1worldcommunication.org/Walmart.htm
 http://www.sprawl-busters.com/
 http://www.indyweek.com/durham/2002-05-08/news.html

International Boycott Walmart Meetup, Sept 13:
 http://boycottwalmart.meetup.com/