Walmart de México y Centroamérica, Walmart's largest division outside the U.S. as of January 31, 2018, consists of 2,358 stores around the country, including 262 Walmart Supercenter stores and 161 Sam's Club stores. It has been traded in the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1977 (as Cifra). Wal-Mart de México y Centroamérica is the biggest retailer in Latin America. The company was founded in 1952 as Cifra by Jerónimo Arango. In 1991, Cifra and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. signed a joint venture agreement. This agreement allowed cooperation between the two companies and the opening of Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs in Mexico. In 1997, Walmart increased its stake by acquiring 51% of Cifra. Cifra was renamed Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Walmart again increased its stake in Wal-Mart de Mexico to 60% in April 2000. After completing the acquisition of Walmart's operations in Central America in January 2010, Walmart Mexico changed its name to Walmart de Mexico y Centroamérica. In 1999 they continued expressing their aggressive position: Following the implementation of NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement]; Grupo CIFRA initiates Mexico's first duty-free importation of fresh Canadian Beef from Biological Farm Management Systems (BFMS) Inc., an Alberta, CANADA export company. As of January 31, 2018, Walmart operated 2,358 retail outlets in Mexico, under the Walmart Supercenter, Superama, Sam's Club, Bodega Aurrerá, Mi Bodega Aurrera, Bodega Aurrera Express, and Farmacia de Walmart banners. As of 2012, the company was Mexico's largest private sector employer with 209,000 employees. Approximately one-fifth of Walmart stores in the world are in Mexico. It competes with Soriana, Comercial Mexicana, Chedraui, H-E-B, Casa Ley, and S-Mart. Walmex's restaurant division, Vips, was acquired by the Mexican restaurant company, Alsea, in September 2013 for around $626 million.