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Carrefour’s Rival In The United States, Walmart Will Keep All Of Its More Than Four Thousand Stores Closed All Day On December 25 And Will Operate On Reduced Hours On Christmas Eve, From 6 AM To 6 PM, Forcing Consumers To Anticipate Last-Minute Purchases To Avoid Lines And Extra Surprises.
Carrefour’s rival in the grocery retail sector, Walmart has decided to keep all of its more than four thousand stores in the United States completely closed for 24 hours on December 25, in addition to operating on reduced hours on December 24. This Christmas of 2025, the chain reinforces a practice that has become traditional, in respect to the national holiday and employee time off, concentrating all service on Christmas Eve only in the morning and afternoon.
With stores open from 6 AM to 6 PM on December 24 and completely closed on December 25, consumers who usually leave shopping until Christmas Eve night may be caught off guard to find supermarkets already closed. The implicit guidance is clear: anyone wanting to ensure their Christmas dinner, gifts, and last-minute items will need to plan ahead.
Stores Closed On Christmas And Limited Hours On Christmas Eve
According to the company’s communication, all of Walmart’s more than four thousand units in the United States will be closed all day on December 25, with no type of in-person service. This measure applies to supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other formats of the chain in the country.
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On Christmas Eve, December 24, operations will be on reduced hours: stores will open at 6 AM and close at 6 PM, leaving only 12 hours for customers to take care of everything they need for Christmas. After this time, the doors will remain closed until the end of December 25.
Impact On Last-Minute Shopping For Consumers
The decision by Carrefour’s rival directly impacts the behavior of those who leave shopping until the last moment. Consumers accustomed to going to the store at night, after work or close to dinner, may arrive to find everything closed, with no possibility of service.
Even with the reduced hours, the expectation is that the customer flow will increase throughout December 24, especially in the late morning and early afternoon, when many families do their final shopping. This tends to concentrate movement, create lines, and make planning even more essential to avoid rushing and frustration. On December 26, with the resumption of normal operations, the chain usually sees an increase in traffic due to gift exchanges, pantry replenishment, and post-Christmas shopping.
Tradition Of Carrefour’s Rival On Christmas Holiday
Closing its doors on December 25 is not exactly new for Carrefour’s rival. Walmart has been implementing the practice of completely suspending operations on Christmas Day in the United States for several years, reinforcing the family-oriented nature of the holiday and the rest of its employees.
By maintaining this model at the end of the year, the company signals that it does not intend to make exceptions, even in the face of pressure from consumers who prefer to finalize everything at the last minute. The combination of reduced hours on Christmas Eve and total closure on December 25 creates a scenario in which planning becomes mandatory, not just recommended.
The Trajectory Of Walmart In Brazil And The Competition With Carrefour
The history of Carrefour’s rival in Brazil helps to understand the brand’s weight in global retail. Walmart arrived in the country in 1995 with an aggressive expansion strategy, investing in the acquisition of established chains such as Bompreço and Big, and spreading units across various regions. The company operated in different store formats, seeking to adapt its global model to Brazilian consumers.
Despite its international strength, the chain faced challenges in deciphering local habits, dealing with competition, and adjusting its management to the Brazilian market. Years of results below expectations led to successive adjustments and, ultimately, the decision to drastically reduce its presence in the country.
In 2018, Walmart sold 80% of its operations in Brazil to Advent International, which rebranded the business as Grupo Big. The final chapter of this trajectory came in 2022, when Carrefour Brazil acquired Grupo Big, officially ending Walmart’s story in the Brazilian market and further consolidating Carrefour’s position in national retail.
Thus, Carrefour’s rival’s decision in the United States to close stores on Christmas and reduce hours on Christmas Eve demonstrates not only internal holiday policy, but also the strength of a giant that once directly competed with Carrefour on Brazilian soil.
And you, do you usually organize your Christmas shopping in advance or do you leave everything until the last minute, running the risk of finding the store closed?
Tive o.prazer de trabalhar na inauguração do walmart em.osasco em 1995 de.setembro.a dezembro o do mesmo.ano, a.inauguracao foi conjunta com a.loja de Santo.andre e foi em 20/11/1995,pena terem encerrado as atividades aqui no Brasil