Wal-Mart and Chile’s largest retailer Distribución y Servicio (D&S) have reportedly announced they are to open stores in Peru following Wal-Mart’s acquisition of controlling interest in D&S.

Enrique Ostalé, general manager of D&S, confirmed the company will open 60 stores in Chile this year and begin entering the retail market in Peru, according to a report by Peruvian daily El Comercio.

D&S plans to open at least three stores in Peru under the D&S banner A Cuenta, with an expected 2,000m2 of sales space per outlet.

“We’ve begun a process, which has various stages, to enter the country (Peru),” Mr Ostalé said. “We will go step by step. Our intention is to get to know Peru’s market and adapt our format accordingly.”

D&S is the main competitor of fellow Chilean retailer Cencosud, which operates Jumbo supermarkets in Peru and owns Peruvian retail operator Wong and Metro.