Wal-Mart chief addresses Hispanic community

MIAMI Wal-Mart president and ceo Lee Scott emphasized his company's efforts in the Hispanic community during an address to the members of the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, at their annual meeting in Miami Tuesday.

Scott pointed out that nearly 154,000 Hispanic associates are employed at various levels across the company in the United States. He added that the company workes with many Hispanic suppliers, such as Gruma and La India Spices.

The Hispanic community is not only working at Wal-Mart, Scott noted, but also shopping there. According to Scott, 14% of the 127 million customers who shop the U.S. stores are Hispanic. And that 14% represents strong buying power, which among Hispanics is projected to reach nearly $1.2 trillion by 2011.

"At Wal-Mart, we believe we are uniquely positioned to seize that opportunity and give Hispanic Americans the shopping experience they want and deserve," said Scott.