Wal-Mart and Megasuper Say It Will Offer Security For Customers In Their Stores
Two major supermarket chaings - Wal-Mart Costa Rica and Corporación Megasuper - say they will guarantee their thousands of customers tight security to make their shopping experience a safe one.

The announcement came after a Juzgado Civil de San José (San José Court) sentenced teh Perimercados supermarket chain to pay a ¢75 million colones (us$150.000) indemnization to a San Ramon family when their little daughter swallowed rat poison while in the local store.

No doubt Perimercados will appeal the sentence and none of the other supermarket chains are talking about the case.

Aquileo Sánchez, the director of Asuntos Corporativos de Wal-Mart Costa Rica, the company has strict guidelines on the handling and storage of dangerous products, saying that their guidelines have the support fo the Ministerio de Salud Pública (Health Ministry).

The spokesperson for MásxMenos, Hipermás, Palí and Maxibodega explained that products like drain cleaners, rat poison and other dangerous products are kept high on the shelves so that children cannot reach them. Carlos Campos, marketing manager for Megasuper, his stores label the dangerous products and warn parents of the dangers to their children.

Both Sánchez and Campos agree that the security of minors in their supermarkets is a mutual responsibility with the parents. "Supermarkets are not a playground. It is imperative that parents keep an eye on their children", said Sánchez.

Wal-Mart Costa Rica purchased a controlling share of Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO), which owns the Corporacion de Supermercados Unidos (CSU), headquartered in Costa Rica, and operates the MasxMenos, Hipermás, Palí and Maxibodega chain of stores. CARHCO was renamed to Wal-Mart Costa Rica shortly after the announcement of the acquisition on March 15 last.