Walmart to Ramp Up Business in China

A new wholly owned subsidiary has reportedly been set up by Walmart in Hebei, China, in an effort to further expand and localize its operations.

The new subsidiary, according to China's Ministry of Commerce, is an addition to more than 10 others in the country that Walmart began forming in 2009. Those efforts last year supported the opening of 40 new Walmart stores.

Walmart arrived in China in 1996, launching a supercenter and Sam's Club in Shenzhen, followed by neighborhood markets. In February 2007, the retailer invested in hypermarket chain Trust-Mart, which operates more than 100 retail units.