walmart#Walmart Supercenter

{{Main|History of Walmart}}

File:Sam-Walton.jpg]]

File: Walton's Five and Dime store, Bentonville, Arkansas.jpg, now serving as The Walmart Museum|alt=Picture of Sam Walton's original Five and Dime store in Bentonville, Arkansas, now serving as The Walmart Museum.]]

In 1945, businessman and former J. C. Penney employee Sam Walton bought a Ben Franklin store branch from the Butler Brothers.{{cite book |author = Walton, Sam |author2 = Huey, John |title = Sam Walton: Made in America: My Story |place = New York |publisher = Bantam |year = 1993 |isbn = 978-0-553-56283-5 }} His primary focus was selling products at low prices to get higher-volume sales at a lower profit margin, portraying it as a crusade for the consumer. He experienced setbacks because the lease price and branch purchase were unusually high, but he was able to find lower-cost suppliers than those used by other stores and was consequently able to undercut his competitors on pricing.{{cite news |url = http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/2375.html |title = Sam Walton: Great From the Start – HBS Working Knowledge |first = Richard S. |last = Tedlow |work = HBS Working Knowledge |date = July 23, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110606044751/http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/2375.html |archive-date = June 6, 2011}} Sales increased 45% in his first year of ownership to {{US$|105,000}} in revenue, which increased to $140,000 the next year and $175,000 the year after that. Within the fifth year, the store was generating $250,000 in revenue. The lease then expired for the location and Walton was unable to reach an agreement for renewal, so he opened up a new store at 105 N. Main Street in Bentonville, naming it "Walton's Five and Dime".{{cite news |author = Frank, T.A. |url = http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13796 |title = A Brief History of Wal-Mart |work = Washington Monthly |date = April 1, 2006 |access-date = July 24, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060721005501/http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13796 |archive-date = July 21, 2006}} That store is now the Walmart Museum.{{cite web |url = http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/history/the-walmart-museum |title = The Walmart Museum |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150204210648/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/history/the-walmart-museum |archive-date = February 4, 2015}}

File:Walmart Logo 1962.svg

On July 2, 1962, Walton opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City store at 719 W. Walnut Street in Rogers, Arkansas. Its design was inspired by Ann & Hope, which Walton visited in 1961, as did Kmart founder Harry B. Cunningham.{{cite book|title=How to be a Billionaire: Proven Strategies from the Titans of Wealth|url=https://archive.org/details/howtobebillionai00mart|url-access=registration|last=Fridson|first=Martin S.|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=1999|isbn=0-471-33202-X}} p. 84.{{Cite web |url=https://www.valleybreeze.com/2020-06-29/cumberland-lincoln-area/ann-hope-closing-all-outlet-stores |title='Ann & Hope closing all outlet stores': The Valley Breeze, July 29, 2020 |date=June 29, 2020 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015092300/https://www.valleybreeze.com/2020-06-29/cumberland-lincoln-area/ann-hope-closing-all-outlet-stores |url-status=live }} The name was derived from FedMart, a chain of discount department stores founded by Sol Price in 1954, whom Walton was also inspired by. Walton stated that he liked the idea of calling his discount chain "Wal-Mart" because he "really liked Sol's FedMart name". The building is now occupied by a hardware store and an antiques mall, while the company's "Store #1" has since expanded to a Supercenter several blocks west at 2110 W. Walnut Street. Within its first five years, the company expanded to 18 stores in Arkansas and reached $9 million in sales.{{cite web |url = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/transform/cron.html |title = The Rise of Walmart |work = Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good for America? |date = November 16, 2004 |access-date = September 19, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930063957/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/transform/cron.html |archive-date = September 30, 2007}} In 1968, it opened its first stores outside Arkansas in Sikeston, Missouri and Claremore, Oklahoma.{{cite web |url = http://www.walmartfacts.com/content/default.aspx?id=3 |title = The Wal-Mart Timeline |publisher = Wal-Mart |access-date = July 24, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060719071543/http://www.walmartfacts.com/content/default.aspx?id=3 |archive-date = July 19, 2006 }}

File:Wal-Mart Logo 1977.svg

The company was incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law as Wal-Mart, Inc. on October 31, 1969, and changed its name to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1970. The same year, the company opened a home office and first distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas. It had 38 stores operating with 1,500 employees and sales of $44.2 million. It began trading stock as a publicly held company on October 1, 1970, and was soon listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The first stock split occurred in May 1971 for $47 per share. By this time, Wal-Mart was operating in five states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma; it entered Tennessee in 1973 and Kentucky and Mississippi in 1974. As the company moved into Texas in 1975, there were 125 stores with 7,500 employees and total sales of $340.3 million.

File:Walmart 1980s Logo.svg

In the 1980s, Wal-Mart briefly experimented with a precursor to the Supercenter, the Hyper-Mart. Four stores combined features of discount stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, video arcades, and other amenities. Wal-Mart continued to grow rapidly, and by the company's 25th anniversary in 1987, there were 1,198 Wal-Mart stores with sales of $15.9 billion and 200,000 associates. One reason for Wal-Mart's success between 1980 and 2000 is believed to be its contiguous pattern of expansion over time, building new distribution centers in a hub and spoke framework within driving distance of existing Supercenters.

The company's satellite network was also completed in 1987, a $24 million investment linking all stores with two-way voice and data transmissions and one-way video communications with the Bentonville office. At the time, the company was the largest private satellite network, allowing the corporate office to track inventory and sales and to instantly communicate with stores.{{cite web|last=Ranade|first=Sudhanshu|url=http://www.blonnet.com/2005/07/17/stories/2005071700141600.htm|title=Satellite Adds Speed to Wal-Mart|work=Business Line|date=July 17, 2005|access-date=July 24, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012640/http://www.blonnet.com/2005/07/17/stories/2005071700141600.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2007}} By 1984, Sam Walton had begun to source between 6% and 40% of his company's products from China.{{cite news |last=Hornblower |first=Sam |date=November 23, 2004 |title=Wal-Mart & China: A Joint Venture |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html |work=Frontline |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224200001/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html |url-status=live }} In 1988, Walton stepped down as CEO and was replaced by David Glass.{{cite news|title=David Glass Named CEO of Wal-Mart Inc.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-02-fi-40122-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 2, 1988|access-date=February 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306204802/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-02/business/fi-40122_1_david-glass|archive-date=March 6, 2016}} Walton remained as chairman of the board. During this year, the first Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri.{{Cite web|title=Our History|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-history|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Corporate – US|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204210648/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/history/the-walmart-museum|url-status=dead}}

With the contribution of its superstores, the company surpassed Toys "R" Us in toy sales in 1998.{{cite news |title = Toys 'R' Us: Beaten at its own game|last1=Byrnes|first1=Nanette|last2=Eidam|first2=Michael|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2004-03-28/toys-r-us-beaten-at-its-own-game|magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=March 29, 2004|access-date=February 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306074659/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2004-03-28/toys-r-us-beaten-at-its-own-game|archive-date=March 6, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Wal-Mart Dethrones Toys R Us|url=https://apnews.com/6e6082b522082a0d782052046c75b0b2|work=Associated Press News|access-date=April 10, 2014|date=March 29, 1999|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181636/https://apnews.com/6e6082b522082a0d782052046c75b0b2|url-status=live}}

File:Wal-Mart logo, 1992–2008.svg

While it was the third-largest retailer in the United States, Wal-Mart was more profitable than rivals Kmart and Sears by the late 1980s. By 1990, it became the largest U.S. retailer by revenue.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart Net Jumps By 31.8% |last1 = Hayes |first1 = Thomas C. |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/28/business/company-news-wal-mart-net-jumps-by-31.8.html |newspaper = The New York Times |date = February 28, 1990 |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150723112604/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/28/business/company-news-wal-mart-net-jumps-by-31.8.html |archive-date = July 23, 2015}}{{cite book |last1 = Vance |first1 = Sandra Stringer |last2 = Scott |first2 = Roy V. |year = 1997 |title = Wal-Mart: A History of Sam Walton's Retail Phenomenon |url = https://archive.org/details/walmarthistoryof00vanc |location = New York |publisher = Twayne Publishers |isbn = 978-0-8057-9832-6 }}

Prior to the summer of 1990, Wal-Mart had no presence on the West Coast or in the Northeast (except for a single Sam's Club in New Jersey which opened in November 1989); however, in July and October that year, it opened its first stores in California and Pennsylvania, respectively. By the mid-1990s, it was the most powerful retailer in the U.S. and expanded into Mexico in 1991 and Canada in 1994.Jacques, Peter. (January 1, 1970) [https://www.academia.edu/169368/Wal-Mart_or_World-Mart_A_Teaching_Case_Study Wal-Mart or World-Mart? A Teaching Case Study | Peter Jacques] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101212019/http://www.academia.edu/169368/Wal-Mart_or_World-Mart_A_Teaching_Case_Study |date=January 1, 2016 }}. Academia.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2013. Wal-Mart stores opened throughout the rest of the U.S., with Vermont being the last state to get a store in 1995.{{cite news |title = Timeline: An Overview of Wal-Mart |url = https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/business-july-dec04-timeline_08-20 |publisher = PBS |date = August 20, 2004 |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141226212519/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business-july-dec04-timeline_08-20/ |archive-date = December 26, 2014}}

The company also opened stores outside North America, entering South America in 1995 with stores in Argentina and Brazil;{{cite news |title=Wal-Mart to open stores in Brazil, Argentina |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19940607-1.2.47.7.22?qt=k-mart&q=k-mart |work=Business Times (Singapore) |agency=Bloomberg Business News |date=June 7, 1994}} and Europe in July 1999, buying Asda in the United Kingdom for {{US$|10 billion}}.{{cite web |author = Buerkle, Tom |url = http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/06/15/walmart.2.t.php |title = $10 Billion Gamble in U.K. Doubles Its International Business: Wal-Mart Takes Big Leap into Europe |work = International Herald Tribune |date = June 15, 1999 |access-date = April 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226063515/http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/06/15/walmart.2.t.php |archive-date = February 26, 2008 }}

In 1997, Wal-Mart was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-13-fi-37733-story.html Dow Jones Shakes Up Its Index With Four Replacements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224195908/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-13-fi-37733-story.html |date=December 24, 2020 }}, Associated Press (March 13, 1997).File:Walmart logo.svg

In 1998, Wal-Mart introduced the Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas.{{cite web |url = http://www.mystore411.com/store/list_state/5/Arkansas/Wal-Mart-Neighborhood-Market-store-locations |title = Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market Locations in Arkansas |access-date = December 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025424/http://www.mystore411.com/store/list_state/5/Arkansas/Wal-Mart-Neighborhood-Market-store-locations |archive-date = January 17, 2013}} By 2005, estimates indicate that the company controlled about 20% of the retail grocery and consumables business.{{cite news |url = http://grist.org/series/2011-11-07-walmart-greenwash-retail-giant-still-unsustainable/ |title = WALMART'S GREENWASH: WHY THE RETAIL GIANT IS STILL UNSUSTAINABLE |publisher = Grist.org |date = November 7, 2012 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |author = Mitchell, Stacy |newspaper = Grist |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121118145036/http://grist.org/series/2011-11-07-walmart-greenwash-retail-giant-still-unsustainable/ |url-status=live |archive-date = November 18, 2012 }}

In 2000, H. Lee Scott became Wal-Mart's president and CEO as the company's sales increased to $165 billion.{{cite web |url = http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/112761/ARs/2000_annualreport.pdf |title = Walmart Annual Report 2000 |access-date = December 8, 2012 |page = 18 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025419/http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/11/112761/ARs/2000_annualreport.pdf |archive-date = January 17, 2013}} In 2002, it was listed for the first time as America's largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list, with revenues of $219.8 billion and profits of $6.7 billion. It has remained there every year except 2006, 2009, and 2012.{{Cite press release |publisher=Fortune Media (USA) Corporation |title=WALMART TOPS THE FORTUNE GLOBAL 500 LIST FOR 10th CONSECUTIVE YEAR |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walmart-tops-the-fortune-global-500-list-for-10th-consecutive-year-301891191.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |via=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

In 2005, Wal-Mart reported {{US$|312.4 billion}} in sales, more than 6,200 facilities around the world—including 3,800 stores in the United States and 2,800 elsewhere, employing more than 1.6 million associates. Its U.S. presence grew so rapidly that only small pockets of the country remained more than {{convert|60|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} from the nearest store.{{cite conference |first = Matthew |last = Zook |author2 = Graham, Mark |editor-first = Stanley D. |editor-last = Brunn |title = Wal-Mart Nation: Mapping the Reach of a Retail Colossus |book-title = Wal-Mart World: The World's Biggest Corporation in the Global Economy |pages = 15–25 |publisher = Routledge |year = 2006 |isbn = 978-0-415-95137-1 }}

As Wal-Mart expanded rapidly into the world's largest corporation, many critics worried about its effect on local communities, particularly small towns with many "mom and pop" stores. There have been several studies on the economic impact of Wal-Mart on small towns and local businesses, jobs, and taxpayers. Kenneth Stone, a professor of economics, found that some small towns can lose almost half of their retail trade within ten years of a Wal-Mart store opening.Stone, Kenneth E. (1997). "[https://www.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/10yrstudy.pdf Impact of the Wal-Mart Phenomenon on Rural Communities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120110527/http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/10yrstudy.pdf |date=January 20, 2016 }}". (Published in Proceedings: Increased Understanding of Public Problems and Policies – 1997. Chicago, Illinois: Farm Foundation). Iowa State University. Retrieved August 4, 2006. However, in another study, he compared the changes to what small-town shops had faced in the past—including the development of the railroads, the advent of the Sears Roebuck catalog, and the arrival of shopping malls—and concluded that shop owners who adapt to changes in the retail market can thrive after Wal-Mart arrives. A later study in collaboration with Mississippi State University showed that there are "both positive and negative impacts on existing stores in the area where the new supercenter locates".{{cite web |url = https://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/MSsupercenterstudy.pdf |title = The economic impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on existing businesses in Mississippi |author = Kenneth E. Stone, Georgeanne Artz and Albert Myles |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160618031634/http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/MSsupercenterstudy.pdf |archive-date = June 18, 2016}}

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005, Wal-Mart used its logistics network to organize a rapid response to the disaster, donating $20 million, 1,500 truckloads of merchandise, food for 100,000 meals, and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers.{{cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html |title = Wal-Mart at Forefront of Hurricane Relief |date = September 6, 2005 |newspaper = The Washington Post |access-date = March 10, 2009 |author = Barbaro, Michael |author2 = Gillis, Justin |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604185015/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html |archive-date = June 4, 2009}} An independent study by Steven Horwitz of St. Lawrence University found that Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, and Lowe's made use of their local knowledge about supply chains, infrastructure, decision makers and other resources to provide emergency supplies and reopen stores well before the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began its response.{{cite book |last1 = Kouzes |first1 = James |last2 = Posner |first2 = Barry |others = Mark Huffman, ConsumerAffairs.com |date = July 6, 2010 |title = The Challenge Continues, Participant Workbook: Enable Others to Act |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=C2e7_FkKkJgC |publisher = John Wiley & Sons |page = 24 |isbn = 978-0-470-40284-9 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160623200304/https://books.google.com/books?id=C2e7_FkKkJgC&printsec=frontcover |archive-date = June 23, 2016}} While the company was overall lauded for its quick response amidst criticism of FEMA, several critics were quick to point out that there still remained issues with the company's labor relations.{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/09/news/fortune500/walmart_image/index.htm |title = Wal-Mart redeems itself, but what's next |date = September 9, 2005 |publisher = CNN |access-date = March 10, 2009 |author = Bhatnagar, Parija |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112103847/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/09/news/fortune500/walmart_image/index.htm |archive-date = November 12, 2009}}

In 2006, Charles Fishman published The Wal-Mart Effect, examining the operation of Wal-Mart's supply chain. His book caught the attention of the press and the public. Fishman's case studies illustrate Wal-Mart's drive to lower costs and achieve greater efficiency and suggest that it may have significant upstream effects. Since Fishman's book was published, Wal-Mart has more than doubled in size. Further research on Wal-Mart's role in the food supply chain has tended to be limited and anecdotal.{{cite book |last = Fishman |first = Charles |year = 2006 |title = The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works—and How It's Transforming the American Economy |url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780143038788 |location = New York |publisher = The Penguin Press |isbn = 978-1-59420-076-2}}

File: Solar Panels on Caguas, Puerto Rico Walmart.jpg (Store #2449) |alt=Aerial view of dozens of solar panels distributed around the roof of a Walmart store]]

In November 2005, Wal-Mart announced several environmental measures to increase energy efficiency and improve its overall environmental record, which had previously been lacking.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/07/25/news/companies/wal-mart-short.fortune/|title=Wal-Mart sees green|author=Gunther, Mark|date=July 27, 2006|access-date=November 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822072035/http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/25/news/companies/wal-mart-short.fortune/|archive-date=August 22, 2006|work=CNN}} The company's primary goals included spending $500 million a year to increase fuel efficiency in Wal-Mart's truck fleet by 25% over three years and double it within ten; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in seven years; reduce energy use at stores by 30%; and cut solid waste from U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs by 25% in three years. CEO Lee Scott said that Wal-Mart's goal was to be a "good steward of the environment" and ultimately use only renewable energy sources and produce zero waste.{{cite news |url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9815727 |title = Is Wal-Mart Going Green? |publisher = NBC News |date = October 25, 2005 |access-date = November 8, 2007 |archive-date = September 21, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921180227/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9815727/ |url-status = live }} The company also designed three new experimental stores with wind turbines, photovoltaic solar panels, biofuel-capable boilers, water-cooled refrigerators, and xeriscape gardens.{{cite news |author = Berner, Robert |url = http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/sep2005/nf20050922_6448_db016.htm |title = Can Wal-Mart Wear a White Hat? |work = Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date = September 22, 2005 |access-date = July 24, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060503192520/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/sep2005/nf20050922_6448_db016.htm |archive-date = May 3, 2006 }} In this time, Wal-Mart also became the biggest seller of organic milk and the biggest buyer of organic cotton in the world, while reducing packaging and energy costs. In 2007, the company worked with outside consultants to discover its total environmental impact and find areas for improvement. Wal-Mart created its own electric company in Texas, named Texas Retail Energy, which planned to supply its stores with cheap power purchased at wholesale prices. Through this new venture, the company expected to save $15 million annually and also to lay the groundwork and infrastructure to sell electricity to Texas consumers in the future.{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/817594/will_walmart_sell_electricity_one_day/index.html|title=Will Wal-Mart Sell Electricity One Day?|author=Souder, Elizabeth|date=January 28, 2007|publisher=RedOrbit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623203730/http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/817594/will_walmart_sell_electricity_one_day/index.html|archive-date=June 23, 2008|url-status=live|access-date=March 31, 2008}}

In 2006, Wal-Mart announced that it would remodel its U.S. stores to help it appeal to a wider variety of demographics, including more affluent shoppers. As part of the initiative, the company launched a new store in Plano, Texas, that included high-end electronics, jewelry, expensive wines and a sushi bar.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14714027|title=Wal-Mart to drop one-size-fits-all approach|date=September 7, 2006|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805192017/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14714027/ns/business-us_business/t/wal-mart-drop-one-size-fits-all-approach/|url-status=live}}

On September 12, 2007, Wal-Mart introduced new advertising with the slogan, "Save money. Live better.", replacing the previous slogan "Always Low Prices, Always", which it had used since 1988. Global Insight, which conducted the research that supported the ads, found that Wal-Mart's price level reduction resulted in savings for consumers of $287 billion in 2006, which equated to $957 per person or $2,500 per household (up 7.3% from the 2004 savings estimate of $2,329).{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walmart-advertising-idUSWEN091820070912 |title = Wal-Mart rolling out new company slogan |work = Reuters |date = September 12, 2007 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111723/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/09/12/us-walmart-advertising-idUSWEN091820070912 |url-status=live |archive-date = February 10, 2013 }}

On June 30, 2008, Wal-Mart removed the hyphen from its logo and replaced the star with a Spark symbol.{{Cite web |last=Gambrell |first=Jon |date=2008-06-30 |title=Hyphen out in Wal-Mart logo |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hyphen-out-in-wal-mart-logo/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} The store branding became "Walmart", with the corporate name remaining with the hyphen as "Wal-Mart". The new logo received mixed reviews from design critics who questioned whether the new logo was as bold as those of competitors, such as the Target bullseye, or as instantly recognizable as the previous company's logo, which was used for 18 years.{{cite web |last = Armin |title = Less Hyphen, More Burst for Walmart |url = http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/less_hyphen_more_burst_for_wal.php |work = Brand New |publisher = UnderConsideration LLC |access-date = August 9, 2010 |date = June 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100211143200/http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/less_hyphen_more_burst_for_wal.php |archive-date = February 11, 2010}} The new logo{{Cite web|title=Wal-Mart – Logo in EPS, PNG & JPG Formats|url=https://logoose.com/logo/Wal-Mart/36|access-date=January 25, 2022|website=logoose.com|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125164246/https://logoose.com/logo/Wal-Mart/36|url-status=dead}} made its debut on the company's website on July 1, 2008, and its U.S. locations updated store logos in the fall of 2008.{{cite news |url = http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2008/id2008072_324653.htm |title = Wal-Mart Gets a Facelift |last = Jana |first = Reena |date = July 2, 2008 |work = Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date = July 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706161254/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2008/id2008072_324653.htm |archive-date = July 6, 2008 }} Walmart Canada started to adopt the logo for its stores in early 2009.{{cite web |url = http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Retail/20090214_walmart.html |title = Walmart Canada changes logo, slashes prices |date = February 14, 2009 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121102005404/http://domain-b.com/industry/Retail/20090214_walmart.html |archive-date = November 2, 2012}}

On March 20, 2009, Walmart announced that it was paying a combined {{US$|933.6 million}} in bonuses to every full and part-time hourly worker.{{cite news|date=March 20, 2009|title=Wal-Mart gives $933 mn bonus to workers|newspaper=The Economic Times|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co.|location=New York City|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-03-20/news/28454766_1_wal-mart-chief-executive-mike-duke-wal-mart-stores|url-status=dead|access-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218101427/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-03-20/news/28454766_1_wal-mart-chief-executive-mike-duke-wal-mart-stores|archive-date=December 18, 2014}} This was in addition to $788.8 million in profit sharing, 401(k) pension contributions, hundreds of millions of dollars in merchandise discounts, and contributions to the employees' stock purchase plan.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart awards $2 billion to U.S. hourly employees |last1 = Maestri |first1 = Nicole |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walmart-bonus-idUSTRE52I4PS20090319 |work = Reuters |date = March 19, 2009 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023532/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-walmart-bonus-idUSTRE52I4PS20090319 |archive-date = March 4, 2016}} While the economy at large was in an ongoing recession, Walmart reported solid financial figures for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009, with $401.2 billion in net sales, a gain of 7.2% from the prior year. Income from continuing operations increased 3% to $13.3 billion, and earnings per share rose 6% to $3.35.{{cite web |title=Wal-Mart Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2009/02/17/wal-mart-reports-financial-results-for-fiscal-year-and-fourth-quarter |website=Corporate - US |date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012211931/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2009/02/17/wal-mart-reports-financial-results-for-fiscal-year-and-fourth-quarter |url-status=live }}

On February 22, 2010, the company confirmed it was acquiring video streaming company Vudu, Inc. for an estimated $100 million.{{cite news |url = http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575082010734950440.html |title = Walmart Re-Enters Digital Downloading of Movies With Purchase of Vudu |newspaper = The Wall Street Journal |date = February 22, 2010 |first = Miguel |last = Bustillo |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130511065803/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575082010734950440.html |archive-date = May 11, 2013}}

File:Walmart’s Grease Fuel Truck.jpgWalmart's truck fleet logs millions of miles each year, and the company planned to double the fleet's efficiency between 2005 and 2015.{{cite magazine |last = Nishimoto |first = Alex |title = Walmart Debuts Turbine-Powered WAVE Semi Truck Prototype |magazine = Motor Trend |date = March 10, 2014 |url = https://www.motortrend.com/news/walmart-debuts-turbine-powered-wave-semi-truck-prototype/ |access-date = October 8, 2021 |archive-date = October 8, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211008165017/https://www.motortrend.com/news/walmart-debuts-turbine-powered-wave-semi-truck-prototype/ |url-status = live }} Fifteen based at Walmart's Buckeye, Arizona, distribution center were converted to run on biofuel from reclaimed cooking grease made during food preparation at Walmart stores.{{cite web |title = Wal-Mart To Test Hybrid Trucks |publisher = Sustainable Business |date = February 3, 2009 |url = https://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/17599 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140508095041/https://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/17599 |archive-date = May 8, 2014}}

On November 14, 2012, Walmart launched its first mail subscription service called Goodies. Customers pay a $7 monthly subscription for five to eight delivered food samples each month.{{cite news |url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/11/14/wal-mart-food-subscription/1703481/ |title = Wal-Mart launches food subscription service |work = USA Today |access-date = November 14, 2012 |date = November 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121114134458/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/11/14/wal-mart-food-subscription/1703481/ |archive-date = November 14, 2012}} The service shut down in late 2013.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/19/goodies-co-shutdown/|title=Walmart Labs' Subscription Snack Service Goodies.co Will Shut Down|work=TechCrunch|access-date=September 25, 2018|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224200911/https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/19/goodies-co-shutdown/|url-status=live}}

In August 2013, the firm announced it was in talks to acquire a majority stake in the Kenya-based supermarket chain, Naivas.{{Citation |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-naivas-idUSBRE97C0UA20130813 |title = Wal-Mart unit seeks stake in Kenyan supermarket Naivas |work = Reuters |location = International |date = August 13, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183753/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/13/us-kenya-naivas-idUSBRE97C0UA20130813 |archive-date = September 24, 2015}}

In June 2014, some Walmart employees went on strike in major U.S. cities demanding higher wages.{{cite news |url = https://money.cnn.com/2014/06/04/news/companies/walmart-strike-day/ |title = Wal-Mart workers strike in major cities |last = Sheridan |first = Patrick M. |work = CNN Money |publisher = CNN |date = June 4, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216053129/http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/04/news/companies/walmart-strike-day/ |archive-date = December 16, 2014 |access-date = January 26, 2015 |quote = How can you save money if you're not making enough money? }} In July 2014, American actor and comedian Tracy Morgan launched a lawsuit against Walmart seeking punitive damages over a multi-car pile-up which the suit alleges was caused by the driver of one of the firm's tractor-trailers who had not slept for 24 hours. Morgan's limousine was apparently hit by the trailer, injuring him and two fellow passengers and killing a fourth, fellow comedian James McNair.{{cite news |title = Tracy Morgan sues Walmart over New Jersey turnpike crash |url = http://www.newyorkstatesman.com/index.php/sid/223750105/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/ht/Tracy-Morgan-sues-Walmart-over-New-Jersey-turnpike-crash |access-date = July 13, 2014 |work=New York Statesman |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234430/http://www.newyorkstatesman.com/index.php/sid/223750105/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/ht/Tracy-Morgan-sues-Walmart-over-New-Jersey-turnpike-crash |archive-date = July 14, 2014}} Walmart settled with the McNair family for $10 million, while admitting no liability.{{cite news |last1 = McCarthy |first1 = Craig |title = Walmart paid out $10M to family of comedian killed in Tracy Morgan crash, reports say |url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/walmart_paid_out_10m_to_family_of_comedian_killed_in_tracy_morgan_crash_reports_say.html |access-date = July 18, 2016 |work = The Star-Ledger |date = March 20, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160916204553/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/walmart_paid_out_10m_to_family_of_comedian_killed_in_tracy_morgan_crash_reports_say.html |archive-date = September 16, 2016}} Morgan and Walmart reached a settlement in 2015 for an undisclosed amount,{{cite news |last1 = Griffith |first1 = Janelle |last2 = Zambito |first2 = Thomas |title = Tracy Morgan, Wal-Mart reach settlement in lawsuit regarding NJ Turnpike accident |url = http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/tracy_morgan_walmart_reach_settlement_of_lawsuit.html |access-date = July 18, 2016 |work = The Star-Ledger |date = August 7, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160916204620/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/tracy_morgan_walmart_reach_settlement_of_lawsuit.html |archive-date = September 16, 2016}} though Walmart later accused its insurers of "bad faith" in refusing to pay the settlement.{{cite news |last1 = Sherman |first1 = Ted |title = Wal-Mart insurers accused of 'bad faith' in Tracy Morgan case |url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/wal-mart_insurers_accused_of_bad_faith_in_tracy_mo.html |access-date = July 18, 2016 |work = The Star-Ledger |date = October 14, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160917031209/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/wal-mart_insurers_accused_of_bad_faith_in_tracy_mo.html |archive-date = September 17, 2016}}

In 2015, Walmart was the biggest U.S. commercial producer of solar power with 142 MW capacity, and had 17 energy storage projects.{{cite web |url = https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/walmart-corporate-solar-deployments-storage-batteries |title = Wal-Mart Leads the Nation in Corporate Solar Deployments. What Will It Do With Storage? |access-date = October 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161016061103/http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/walmart-corporate-solar-deployments-storage-batteries |archive-date = October 16, 2016}}{{cite web |url = http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-means-business-2015-top-us-corporate-solar-users |title = Solar Means Business 2015: Top U.S. Corporate Solar Users |work = SEIA |access-date = October 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215019/http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-means-business-2015-top-us-corporate-solar-users |archive-date = October 18, 2016}} This solar was primarily on rooftops, whereas there is an additional 20,000 m² for solar canopies over parking lots.Krishnan, R., et al. [https://www.academia.edu/33535233/Technical_Solar_Photovoltaic_Potential_of_Scaled_Parking_Lot_Canopies_A_Case_Study_of_Walmart_U.S.A Technical Solar Photovoltaic Potential of Scaled Parking Lot Canopies- A Case Study of Walmart U.S.A.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030055646/http://www.academia.edu/33535233/Technical_Solar_Photovoltaic_Potential_of_Scaled_Parking_Lot_Canopies_A_Case_Study_of_Walmart_U.S.A |date=October 30, 2017 }} RISUS – Journal on Innovation and Sustainability 8(2) – 2017.

File:Grundy, Virginia Walmart Supercenter.jpg (Store #3303). This store was built as part of a $200 million revitalization project.{{Cite web|title=Unique new $200 Million Taxpayer Funded Wal-Mart Opens in Grundy, Va.|url=http://www.sullivan-county.com/identity/grundy2.htm|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=sullivan-county.com|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224203020/http://www.sullivan-county.com/identity/grundy2.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Telegraph|first=CHARLES BOOTHE Bluefield Daily|title=$200M relocation project that moved a mountain to save Grundy pays off|url=https://www.bdtonline.com/news/200m-relocation-project-that-moved-a-mountain-to-save-grundy-pays-off/article_8d92ed9c-ee48-11e5-9336-3769bae935de.html|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224203941/https://www.bdtonline.com/news/200m-relocation-project-that-moved-a-mountain-to-save-grundy-pays-off/article_8d92ed9c-ee48-11e5-9336-3769bae935de.html|url-status=live}} The store was built on top of a two-story parking garage, the only one of its kind in the United States.{{Cite web|last=Mcintosh|first=Chris|title=Unique new Wal-Mart Supercenter opens in Grundy, Va.|url=https://heraldcourier.com/news/unique-new-wal-mart-supercenter-opens-in-grundy-va/article_151ce46f-f298-59d0-9d23-640d5b0ef9f9.html|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=HeraldCourier.com|date=September 14, 2011|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224203439/https://heraldcourier.com/news/unique-new-wal-mart-supercenter-opens-in-grundy-va/article_151ce46f-f298-59d0-9d23-640d5b0ef9f9.html|url-status=live}}]]

On January 15, 2016, Walmart announced it would close 269 stores in 2016, affecting 16,000 workers.{{cite web |url = https://money.cnn.com/2016/01/15/news/companies/walmart-store-closings/index.html |title = Walmart will close 269 stores this year, affecting 16,000 workers |publisher = CNN |date = January 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160118041646/http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/15/news/companies/walmart-store-closings/index.html |archive-date = January 18, 2016}} Of the stores earmarked for closure, 154 were in the U.S., 95% of which were located, on average, 10 miles from another Walmart store. The 269 stores represented less than 1 percent of global square footage and revenue for the company. The 102 locations of Neighborhood Markets that were formerly or originally planned to be Walmart Express, which had been in a pilot program since 2011 and converted in to Neighborhood Markets in 2014, were included in the closures. Walmart planned to focus on "strengthening Supercenters, optimizing Neighborhood Markets, growing the e-commerce business and expanding pickup services for customers". In fiscal 2017, the company plans to open between 50 and 60 Supercenters, 85 to 95 Neighborhood Markets, 7 to 10 Sam's Clubs, and 200 to 240 international locations.{{cite news |last1=Gustafson |first1=Krystina |last2=Reagan |first2=Courtney |date=January 15, 2016 |title=Wal-Mart to close 269 stores as it retools fleet |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/15/wal-mart-to-close-269-stores-as-it-retools-fleet.html |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224195211/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/15/wal-mart-to-close-269-stores-as-it-retools-fleet.html |url-status=live }} At the end of fiscal 2017, Walmart opened 38 Supercenters and relocated, expanded or converted 21 discount stores into Supercenters, for a total of 59 Supercenters, and opened 69 Neighborhood Markets, 8 Sam's Clubs, and 173 international locations, and relocated, expanded or converted 4 locations for a total of 177 international locations. On August 8, 2016, Walmart announced a deal to acquire e-commerce website Jet.com for US$3.3 billion.{{cite web |url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/08/08/walmart-acquires-jetcom-for-3-billion/88386988/ |title = Why Walmart is spending $3B for online seller Jet.com |work = USA Today |first = Hadley |last = Malcolm |date = August 8, 2016 |access-date = October 6, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161010053719/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/08/08/walmart-acquires-jetcom-for-3-billion/88386988/ |archive-date = October 10, 2016}}{{Cite web |url = http://www.recode.net/2016/8/7/12395114/walmart-jet-acquisition-3-billion-price |title = Walmart is buying Jet.com for $3 billion |last = Rey |first = Jason Del |date = August 8, 2016 |website = Recode |access-date = August 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160808221507/http://www.recode.net/2016/8/7/12395114/walmart-jet-acquisition-3-billion-price |archive-date = August 8, 2016}} Jet.com co-founder and CEO Marc Lore stayed on to run Jet.com in addition to Walmart's existing U.S. e-commerce operation. The acquisition was structured as a payout of $3 billion in cash, and an additional $300 million in Walmart stock vested over time as part of an incentive bonus plan for Jet.com executives.{{cite web |url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1267/0000104169-16-000113.pdf |title=Walmart Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Aug 8, 2016 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=April 23, 2018 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925032710/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1267/0000104169-16-000113.pdf |url-status=live }} On October 19, 2016, Walmart announced it would partner with IBM and Tsinghua University to track the pork supply chain in China using blockchain.{{cite web |url = https://www.yahoo.com/tech/walmart-and-ibm-will-use-blockchain-to-track-pork-from-china-142530691.html |title = Walmart to team with IBM (IBM) and Tsinghua University to track the pork supply chain in China using blockchain |last = Roberts |first = Daniel |date = October 19, 2016 |access-date = October 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161021073245/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/walmart-and-ibm-will-use-blockchain-to-track-pork-from-china-142530691.html |archive-date = October 21, 2016}} The use of blockchain to automate the tracking of the supply chain promises the potential for Walmart to save money and thus increase profits.{{Cite journal |last1=Hasan |first1=Mohammad Raihanul |last2=Shiming |first2=Deng |last3=Islam |first3=Mollah Aminul |last4=Hossain |first4=Muhammed Zakir |date=June 1, 2020 |title=Operational efficiency effects of blockchain technology implementation in firms: Evidence from China |url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/RIBS-05-2019-0069/full/html |journal=Review of International Business and Strategy |language=en |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=163–181 |doi=10.1108/RIBS-05-2019-0069 |s2cid=216520739 |issn=2059-6014 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118234623/https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/RIBS-05-2019-0069/full/html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}

On February 15, 2017, Walmart announced the acquisition of Moosejaw, a leading online active outdoor retailer, for approximately $51 million. The acquisition closed on February 13, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Walmart Announces the Acquisition of Moosejaw, a Leading Online Outdoor Retailer|url=http://news.walmart.com/_news_/2017/02/15/walmart-announces-the-acquisition-of-moosejaw-a-leading-online-outdoor-retailer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319022322/http://news.walmart.com/_news_/2017/02/15/walmart-announces-the-acquisition-of-moosejaw-a-leading-online-outdoor-retailer|archive-date=March 19, 2017|access-date=March 12, 2017}} On June 16, 2017, Walmart agreed to acquire the men's apparel company Bonobos for $310 million in an effort to expand its fashion holdings.{{cite news |url = https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/walmart-bonobos-merger.html |title = Walmart to Buy Bonobos, Men's Wear Company, for $310 Million |newspaper = The New York Times |date = June 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170617084010/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/walmart-bonobos-merger.html |archive-date = June 17, 2017}} On September 29, 2017, Walmart acquired Parcel, a same-day and last-mile delivery company in Brooklyn.{{Cite web |url = https://blog.walmart.com/business/20171003/who-is-parcel-what-this-delivery-company-means-to-walmart |title = Who is Parcel? What This Delivery Company Means to Walmart |website = blog.walmart.com |date = October 3, 2017 |access-date = November 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055646/https://blog.walmart.com/business/20171003/who-is-parcel-what-this-delivery-company-means-to-walmart |archive-date = November 7, 2017}} In 2018, Walmart started crowdsourcing delivery services to customers using drivers' private vehicles, under the brand "Spark".{{cite news |title=Walmart to launch delivery service for other businesses |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/walmart-launch-delivery-service-businesses-79612856 |date=August 24, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |author=Anne D'Innocenzio |access-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825002406/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/walmart-launch-delivery-service-businesses-79612856 |url-status=live }}

On December 6, 2017, Walmart announced that it would change its corporate name to Walmart Inc. from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. effective February 1, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2571/0000104169-17-000084.pdf |title=Walmart Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Dec 6, 2017 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=April 23, 2018 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224195655/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2571/0000104169-17-000084.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url = https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/wal-marts-new-name-its-not-just-a-store-anymore/ar-BBGjaxa?li=BBnb7Kz |title = Wal-Mart's New Name: It's Not Just a Store Anymore |publisher = MSN |access-date = December 6, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171207025508/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/wal-marts-new-name-its-not-just-a-store-anymore/ar-BBGjaxa?li=BBnb7Kz |archive-date = December 7, 2017 |url-status=dead}}

On January 11, 2018, Walmart announced that 63 Sam's Club locations would be closing. Some of the stores had already liquidated, without notifying employees; some employees learned by a company-wide email delivered January 11. Walmart said that ten of the stores will become e-commerce distribution centers and employees can reapply to work at those locations. Business Insider magazine calculated that over 11,000 workers would be affected.{{cite news | url=http://www.cleveland19.com/story/37245316/sams-club-stores-close-around-the-country | title=Sam's Club stores close around the country | work=Cleveland 19 News | date=January 11, 2018 | access-date=May 17, 2019 | archive-date=January 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042811/http://www.cleveland19.com/story/37245316/sams-club-stores-close-around-the-country | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Walmart is abruptly closing 63 Sam's Club stores and laying off thousands of workers|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-suddenly-closes-sams-club-stores-2018-1/|author=Peterson, Hayley|date=January 11, 2018|website=Business Insider|access-date=May 17, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403012624/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-suddenly-closes-sams-club-stores-2018-1|url-status=live}} On the same day, Walmart announced that as a result of the new tax law, it would be raising Walmart starting wages, distributing bonuses, expanding its leave policies and contributing toward the cost of employees' adoptions. Doug McMillon, Walmart's CEO, said, "We are early in the stages of assessing the opportunities tax reform creates for us to invest in our customers and associates and to further strengthen our business, all of which should benefit our shareholders."{{cite web|title=Walmart is giving its workers a pay raise and a cash bonus of up to $1,000|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-raises-employee-wages-11-2018-1|author=Peterson, Hayley|date=January 11, 2018|website=Business Insider|access-date=May 17, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517234906/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-raises-employee-wages-11-2018-1|url-status=live}}

It was reported that Walmart is now looking at entering the subscription-video space, hoping to compete with Netflix and Amazon. They have enlisted the help of former Epix CEO, Mark Greenberg, to help develop a low-cost subscription video-streaming service.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/walmart-mark-greenberg-streaming-video-subscription-netflix-amazon-1202881274/|title=Walmart Enlists Mark Greenberg, Former Epix CEO, to Develop Netflix Competitor|magazine=Variety|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=July 28, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224201443/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/walmart-mark-greenberg-streaming-video-subscription-netflix-amazon-1202881274/|url-status=live}}

On February 26, 2019, Walmart announced that it had acquired Tel Aviv-based product review start-up Aspectiva for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jpost-Tech/In-first-Israeli-acquisition-Walmart-purchases-start-up-Aspectiva-581803|title=In first Israeli acquisition, Walmart purchases start-up Aspectiva – Hi-tech news – Jerusalem Post|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com|access-date=February 26, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804171217/https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/in-first-israeli-acquisition-walmart-purchases-start-up-aspectiva-581803|url-status=live}}

In May 2019, Walmart announced the launch of free one-day shipping on more than 220,000 items with minimum purchase amount of $35.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/business/walmart-one-day-shipping-amazon-prime/index.html|title=Walmart is rolling out next-day delivery. Look out, Amazon.com|first=Nathaniel|last=Meyersohn|work=CNN|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022123754/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/business/walmart-one-day-shipping-amazon-prime/index.html|url-status=live}}

In September 2019, Walmart made the announcement that it would cease the sale of all e-cigarettes due to "regulatory complexity and uncertainty" over the products. Earlier in 2019, Walmart stopped selling fruit-flavored e-cigarette and had raised the minimum age to 21 for the purchase of products containing tobacco.{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Walmart says it will stop selling e-cigarettes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/20/20876076/walmart-sams-club-e-cigarette-sales-stop-regulation-uncertainty-lung-illness |website=The Verge |date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617184155/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/20/20876076/walmart-sams-club-e-cigarette-sales-stop-regulation-uncertainty-lung-illness |url-status=live }} That same month, Walmart opened its first Health Center, a "medical mall" where customers can purchase primary care services. Prices without insurance were listed, for instance, at $30 for an annual physical and $45 for a counseling session.{{cite magazine |last1=Times Staff |title=12 Innovations That Will Change Health Care and Medicine in the 2020s |url=https://time.com/5710295/top-health-innovations/ |magazine=Time |access-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224203833/https://time.com/5710295/top-health-innovations/ |url-status=live }} Continuing with its health care initiative, they opened a {{Convert|2600|sqft|m2}} health and wellness clinic prototype in Springdale, Arkansas just to expand services.{{cite web|last=Petro|first=Greg|title=Walmart And Amazon Lead The Retail Pack By Leveraging Healthcare|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2020/06/25/walmart-and-amazon-lead-the-retail-pack-by-leveraging-healthcare/|date=June 25, 2020|access-date=June 27, 2020|work=Forbes|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116071755/https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2020/06/25/walmart-and-amazon-lead-the-retail-pack-by-leveraging-healthcare/|url-status=live}}

By October 2019, Walmart stopped selling all live fish and aquatic plants.{{cite web |title=Walmart Discontinuing Sale of Pet Fish |url=http://www.petbusiness.com/Walmart-Discontinuing-Sale-of-Pet-Fish/ |website=Pet Business Magazine |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705062611/http://www.petbusiness.com/Walmart-Discontinuing-Sale-of-Pet-Fish/ |url-status=live }}

File:Walmart Coronavirus notices.jpg

In early 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced temporary measures such as store closures, limited store occupancy, large-scale employee dismissal, and the enforcement of social distancing protocols for Walmart and many other companies. Store hours were adjusted to allow cleaning and stocking. Limits on items were placed due to the rise of panic buying.

During the pandemic, Walmart changed some of its employee benefits. Employees were able to decide to stay home and take unpaid leave if they feel unable to work or uncomfortable coming to work. Additionally, Walmart employees who contract the virus would receive "up to two weeks of pay". After two weeks, hourly associates who are unable to return to work are eligible for up to 26 weeks in pay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-changes-walmart-starbucks-employee-benefits-2020-3|title=From Walmart to Burger King's parent company, these 14 retail companies are changing their benefits policies amid the coronavirus pandemic|last=Jiang|first=Irene|website=Business Insider|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114074301/https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-changes-walmart-starbucks-employee-benefits-2020-3|url-status=live}} Walmart paid pandemic bonuses of $428 million to its staff. People who did part-time or temporary work received a bonus of $150 while those who worked full-time received a bonus of $300.{{cite news |title=Walmart to spend another $428 million on employee bonuses |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-walmart-idCAKCN24M25C |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=Reuters |date=July 21, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012193409/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-walmart-idCAKCN24M25C |url-status=live }} Starting in July 2020, Walmart customers were required to wear masks in all stores nationwide, including Sam's Club.{{Cite web|last=Tyko|first=Kelly|date=July 15, 2020|title=Walmart and Sam's Club to require masks nationwide starting July 20 as COVID-19 cases rise|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/15/walmart-masks-required-shoppers-sams-club-covid-19/5442415002/|access-date=July 15, 2020|website=USA Today|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204083053/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/15/walmart-masks-required-shoppers-sams-club-covid-19/5442415002/|url-status=live}} By February 2022, the COVID-19 restrictions such as the mask requirements and employee benefits were lifted.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-13 |title=Walmart lifts mask mandate and COVID sick leave policy for vaccinated employees |url=https://abc7.com/walmart-mask-mandate-drops-vaccinated-employee/11561568/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}}

In the first quarter of 2020, consumers responded to COVID by shopping less frequently (5.6% fewer transactions), and buying more when they did shop (16.5%). As people shifted from eating out to eating at home,{{cite journal |last1=Volpe |first1=Richard |last2=Boland |first2=Michael A. |title=The Economic Impacts of Walmart Supercenters |journal=Annual Review of Resource Economics |date=October 5, 2022 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=43–62 |doi=10.1146/annurev-resource-111820-032827 |s2cid=250158765 |language=en |issn=1941-1340|doi-access=free }} net sales at Walmart increased by 10.5%, while online sales rose by 74%. Although Walmart experienced a 5.5% increase in operating expenses, its net income increased by 3.9%.{{cite news |last1=Kohan |first1=Shelley E. |title=Walmart's Online Sales Have Surged 74% During The Pandemic |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleykohan/2020/05/19/walmart-revenue-up-86-e-commerce-up-74/?sh=5f27f0d366cc |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=Forbes |date=May 19, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012194851/https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleykohan/2020/05/19/walmart-revenue-up-86-e-commerce-up-74/?sh=5f27f0d366cc |url-status=live }} In the third quarter of 2020, Walmart reported revenue of $134.7 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ed02767c-48cd-418f-baa9-49cd44ed5310 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/ed02767c-48cd-418f-baa9-49cd44ed5310 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription|title= Walmart and Home Depot extend pandemic winning streaks |work=Financial Times|first=Alistair|last=Gray|date=November 17, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020}}

In December 2020, Walmart launched a new service, Carrier Pickup, that allows the customers to schedule returns.{{Cite news|date=December 21, 2020|title=Walmart unveils new product return service|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/walmart-return-idUSKBN28V19O|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=December 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225204042/https://www.reuters.com/article/walmart-return-idUSKBN28V19O|url-status=live}}

In January 2021, Walmart announced that the company is launching a fintech startup, with venture partner Ribbit Capital, to provide financial products for consumers and employees.{{cite news |last=Townsend |first=Matthew |url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/walmart-announces-fintech-startup-with-ribbit-capital |title=Walmart Creates Fintech Startup, Speeding Push Beyond Retail |work=BloombergQuint |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123151439/https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/walmart-announces-fintech-startup-with-ribbit-capital |url-status=live }}

In February 2021, Walmart acquired technology from Thunder Industries, which uses automation to create digital ads, to expand its online marketing capabilities.{{Cite news|last=Bruell|first=Sahil Patel and Alexandra|date=February 4, 2021|title=Walmart Buys Ad Tech to Chase Small-Business Advertisers|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-buys-ad-tech-to-chase-small-business-advertisers-11612438200|access-date=February 8, 2021|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=February 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207220700/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-buys-ad-tech-to-chase-small-business-advertisers-11612438200|url-status=live}}

In May 2021, Walmart acquired the Israeli startup Zeekit for $200 million. Zeekit uses artificial intelligence to allow customers to try on clothing via a dynamic virtual platform.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-the-walmart-deal-meet-one-of-the-only-israeli-women-to-seal-a-nine-figure-exit-1.10112985 Meet one of the only Israeli women to seal a nine-figure exit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914154004/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-the-walmart-deal-meet-one-of-the-only-israeli-women-to-seal-a-nine-figure-exit-1.10112985 |date=September 14, 2021 }}, Haaretz

In August 2021, Walmart announced it would open its Spark crowdsource delivery to other businesses as a white-label service, competing with Postmates and online food ordering delivery companies.

In December 2021, Walmart announced it will participate in the Stephens Investment Conference Wednesday, and the Morgan Stanley Virtual Global Consumer & Retail Conference.{{Cite web|title=Walmart To Participate in Both the Stephens Investment Conference and the Morgan Stanley Virtual Global Consumer & Retail Conference|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/11/24/walmart-to-participate-in-both-the-stephens-investment-conference-and-the-morgan-stanley-virtual-global-consumer-retail-conference|access-date=November 28, 2021|website=Corporate – US|language=en-US|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128071336/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/11/24/walmart-to-participate-in-both-the-stephens-investment-conference-and-the-morgan-stanley-virtual-global-consumer-retail-conference|url-status=live}} In June 2022, Walmart announced it would be acquiring Memomi, an AR optical tech company.{{Cite web |title=Walmart is acquiring Memomi, an AR startup powering virtual try-on for eyewear |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/29/walmart-is-acquiring-memomi-an-ar-startup-powering-virtual-try-on-for-eyewear/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=TechCrunch |date=June 29, 2022 |language=en-US |last=Perez |first=Sarah}}

In August 2022, Walmart announced it would be acquiring Volt Systems, a vendor management and product tracking software company.{{Cite web |title=Walmart acquires omnichannel tech specialist Volt Systems |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-acquires-volt-systems/629083/ |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Retail Dive |language=en-US |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809145743/https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-acquires-volt-systems/629083/ |url-status=live }} Walmart announced it was partnering with Paramount to offer Paramount+ content

to its Walmart+ subscribers in a bid to better compete with Amazon.{{Cite news |title=Walmart Reaches Streaming Deal With Paramount+ |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-reaches-streaming-deal-with-paramount-11660589853?mod=djemalertNEWS |access-date=August 15, 2022 |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 15, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815200353/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-reaches-streaming-deal-with-paramount-11660589853?mod=djemalertNEWS |url-status=live }}

In August 2022, Walmart announced that locations were not going back to 24 hours with most stores now being open between 6am and 11pm.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Walmart: No plans to make stores 24/7 again |url=https://www.wtvy.com/2022/08/12/walmart-no-plans-make-stores-247-again/ |access-date=September 5, 2022 |website=WSFA 12 News |date=August 12, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905175620/https://www.wtvy.com/2022/08/12/walmart-no-plans-make-stores-247-again/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2023, Walmart announced it would raise its minimum wage for U.S. hourly workers from $12 to $14 an hour. Approximately 340,000 employees are expected to receive a raise, effective in early March 2023, and Walmart's U.S. average wage is expected to be over $17.50. The company also announced it would be adding additional college degrees and certificates to its Live Better U program.{{Cite web |last=Repko |first=Melissa |title=Walmart raises minimum wage as retail labor market remains tight |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/24/walmart-raises-minimum-wage-as-retail-labor-market-remains-tight.html |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=CNBC |date=January 24, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124164008/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/24/walmart-raises-minimum-wage-as-retail-labor-market-remains-tight.html |url-status=live }}

In February 2023, Walmart announced that they had made $611.3 billion in sales in the previous financial year, up 6.7%, which included a bump in the fourth quarter of the year, which saw $164 billion in sales. Profits for the company were also up, almost doubled from the previous year.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Walmart beats Q4 expectations during holiday shopping period |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-f130b49a4e23b17697179b13664abbaf |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=February 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221140956/https://apnews.com/article/business-f130b49a4e23b17697179b13664abbaf |url-status=live }}

In April 2023, the company announced it would add electric vehicle charging stations at thousands of stores by 2030, which would be on top of the almost 1,300 existing stations that were in operation at 280 company locations at the time of the announcement. CNBC noted that the company stated it had more than 4,700 stores and 600 Sam Club's stores that were located within 10 miles of roughly 90% of Americans.{{Cite web |last=Sheidlower |first=Noah |title=Walmart will add thousands of EV charging stations to stores by 2030 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/06/walmart-ev-charging-network-plans.html |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=CNBC |date=April 6, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406202639/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/06/walmart-ev-charging-network-plans.html |url-status=live }}

In January 2024, Walmart announced it would open over 150 stores in the U.S. over the next five years while remodeling 650 existing ones across 47 states and Puerto Rico. This was a reversal for the company, which had been in a period of de-emphasizing new store openings as it focused on online competition, in particular from Amazon, and came amid an overall greater industry focus on traditional retail in the post-pandemic area.{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Walmart to open or expand more than 150 stores |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/corporations/walmart-open-expand-150-stores-rcna136652 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nassauer |first=Sarah |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Walmart, in a Reversal, to Open New Stores in the U.S. |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/walmart-in-a-reversal-to-open-new-stores-in-the-u-s-ffb78d80 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en}}

In February 2024, the company announced that its "Project Gigaton" initiative begun in 2017 to reduce its Scope 3 emissions from suppliers by 1 billion metric tons by 2030 had reached its goal 6 years early, and that 75% of its net sales in fiscal year 2023 were from suppliers participating in the initiative.{{cite news|last=Richters|first=Kim|date=February 23, 2024|title=Walmart Hits Supply-Chain Emissions Goal—Six Years Early|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-hits-supply-chain-emissions-goalsix-years-early-8988d78f|access-date=February 23, 2024}}

In 2024, Walmart reported that they were planning to remove the self checkout from some stores due to feedback.{{Cite web |title=Walmart removes self-checkout from select stores |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-removes-self-checkout-stores-experience/714306/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=Retail Dive |language=en-US}}

On August 27, 2024, Walmart announced a new service to transport goods from Asia to U.S. and compete more effectively with Amazon.{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Walmart unveils new marketplace seller services for holiday boost |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/walmart-unveils-new-marketplace-seller-services-holiday-boost-2024-08-27/}}

On November 25, 2024, Walmart announced that it is ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, in addition to delisting products designed for transgender minors such as breast binders.{{multiref2

| 1 = {{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Darren |title=Walmart to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/walmart-roll-back-diversity-equity-inclusion-policies/story?id=116221884 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=ABC News |language=en}}

| 2 = {{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Walmart becomes latest - and biggest - company to roll back its DEI policies |url=https://apnews.com/article/walmart-dei-inclusion-diversity-34b06922e60e5116fe198696201ce4d9 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}

}}

In January 2025, Walmart redesigned its logo for the first time since 2008. The logo largely stayed the same except the word was made a little bigger, the background darker blue, and the spark slightly bigger.{{Cite web |last=Hauari |first=Gabe |title=Walmart unveils 'modern' new logo. The internet can't see the difference. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/14/walmart-new-logo-redesign/77689947007/#:~:text=Walmart%20said%20it%20will%20begin,to%20be%20redesigned%20over%20time. |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

On June 2025, Walmart teamed up with Synchrony Financial to issue their credit card, which marks the return of a collaboration that ended in 2018{{Cite news |date=June 9, 2025 |title=Synchrony Financial to once again issue Walmart's credit card |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/synchrony-financial-once-again-issue-walmarts-credit-card-2025-06-09/?utm_source=chatgpt.com}}

In February 2024, the company announced that managers will be given stock grants of up to $20,000, Walmart also announced a 3–1 stock split that will make it easier for employees to buy company stock. Such stock rewards for rank-and-file employees are rare in the retail industry, which analysts say could generate $20 billion in revenue for the average household in the near future.

The company is also raising the starting base salary for store managers and increasing the bonus plan of up to 200 per cent of their regular salaries.{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/03/what-walmarts-new-focus-on-employee-stock-means-for-american-wealth.html|title=What Walmart's new focus on employee stock means for the labor market and average American household|website=CNBC|date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2024|archive-date=February 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206222534/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/03/what-walmarts-new-focus-on-employee-stock-means-for-american-wealth.html}}

Also in February, Walmart entered into an agreement to acquire Vizio for $2.3{{nbsp}}billion with the intention to expand its advertising sales in video content that streams for free on Vizio devices. Following regulatory approval, the acquisition was finalized on December 3.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=February 20, 2024 |title=Walmart Acquires Smart TV Firm Vizio For $2.3B, Altering Streaming Ad Landscape |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/walmart-acquires-smart-tv-firm-vizio-streaming-advertising-1235831495/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220142503/https://deadline.com/2024/02/walmart-acquires-smart-tv-firm-vizio-streaming-advertising-1235831495/ |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}

{{See also|List of assets owned by Walmart}}

[[File:WalMart international locations.svg|thumb|400px|Map of countries with Walmart stores

Legend:

{{legend|#00f|Current market locations}}

{{legend|#ee142a|Former market locations}}

{{legend|#b9b9b9|No current market locations}}]]

As of 2016, Walmart's operations are organized into four divisions: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam's Club and Global eCommerce.{{Cite web |title=FORM 10-K: Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |url=http://d1lge852tjjqow.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000104169/46c5c2e3-666c-4865-b437-eb351ae5dbfe.pdf?noexit=true |publisher=Walmart |date=2016 |access-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-date=April 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417223329/http://d1lge852tjjqow.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000104169/46c5c2e3-666c-4865-b437-eb351ae5dbfe.pdf?noexit=true |url-status=live }} In the United States, Walmart's stores operate in four formats: discount, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club stores. Walmart International stores include additional formats such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, cash-and-carry stores, home improvement, specialty electronics, restaurants, apparel stores, drugstores, and convenience stores.{{cite web |url = http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/2016-Annual-Report-PDF.pdf |title = Walmart 2016 Annual Report |website = stock.walmart.com |publisher = Walmart |page = 19 |type = PDF |access-date = May 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160602123325/http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/2016-Annual-Report-PDF.pdf |archive-date = June 2, 2016}}

File:Walmart in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Walmart in Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Walmart U.S. is the company's largest division, accounting for {{US$|331.666 billion}}, or 65 percent of total sales, for fiscal 2019.{{cite web|url=https://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2020/q4/Earnings-Release-1.31.2020-Final.pdf|title=Earnings Release – 1.31.2020|publisher=Walmart|access-date=February 25, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225053304/https://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2020/q4/Earnings-Release-1.31.2020-Final.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url = http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/2016-Annual-Report-PDF.pdf |title = Walmart 2016 Annual Report |website = stock.walmart.com |publisher = Walmart |page = 20 |type = PDF |access-date = May 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160602123325/http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/2016-Annual-Report-PDF.pdf |archive-date = June 2, 2016}} It consists of three retail formats that have become commonplace in the United States: Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, and other small formats. The discount stores sell a variety of mostly non-grocery products, though emphasis has now shifted towards supercenters, which include more groceries. {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} there are a total of 4,720 Walmart U.S. stores. In the United States, 90 percent of the population resides within 10 miles of a Walmart store.{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Robin |url=https://www.therobinreport.com/walmarts-last-ten-miles-quicker-and-cheaper-than-amazon/ |title=Walmart's "Last Ten Miles" – Quicker and Cheaper Than Amazon |work=The Robin Report |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617125027/https://www.therobinreport.com/walmarts-last-ten-miles-quicker-and-cheaper-than-amazon/ |url-status=live }} The total number of Walmart U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs combined is 5,320. The president and CEO of Walmart U.S. is John Furner.{{cite web |title=John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart U.S. |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/leadership/john-furner/ |website=Walmart - Corporate - US |access-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013152614/https://corporate.walmart.com/leadership/john-furner/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/about/leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402035528/https://corporate.walmart.com/about/leadership |archive-date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=Walmart - Corporate - US}}

File:Walmart Supercenter, North Windham, CT.jpg (Store #2022)]]

Walmart Supercenters, branded simply as "Walmart", are hypermarkets with sizes varying from {{convert|69000|to|260000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, but averaging about {{convert|178000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. These stock general merchandise and a full-service supermarket, including meat and poultry, baked goods, delicatessen, frozen foods, dairy products, garden produce, and fresh seafood. Many Walmart Supercenters also have a garden center, pet shop, pharmacy, Tire & Lube Express, optical center, one-hour photo processing lab, portrait studio, and numerous alcove shops, such as cellular phone stores, hair and nail salons, video rental stores, local bank branches (such as Woodforest National Bank branches in newer locations), and fast food outlets.

Many Walmart Supercenters currently feature McDonald's or Subway restaurants. In some Canadian locations, Tim Hortons were opened. Recently, in several Supercenters, like the Tallahassee, Florida and the Palm Desert, California locations, Walmart added Burger King to their locations, and the location in Glen Burnie, Maryland, due to its past as a hypermarket called Leedmark, boasts an Auntie Anne's and an Italian restaurant. Some Walmart locations in Canada have Axess Law locations, Mary Brown's, Burger King and McDonald's, and Atlantic Lottery Corporation locations in the Atlantic region. Some U.S. locations have Wendy's, Domino's, Taco Bell, Claire's, and small arcades called GamePlay. Very few U.S. locations have KFC, Hardee's, Papa John's, Dairy Queen, Little Caesars, and A&W Restaurants.

Some locations also have fuel stations which sell gasoline distributed by Murphy USA (which spun off from Murphy Oil in 2013), Sunoco ("Optima"), the Tesoro Corporation ("Mirastar"), USA Gasoline, and even now Walmart-branded gas stations.

The first Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri, in 1988. A similar concept, Hypermart USA, had opened a year earlier in Garland, Texas. All Hypermart USA stores were later closed or converted into Supercenters.

{{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} there were 3,572 Walmart Supercenters in 49 of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Hawaii is the only state to not have a Supercenter location. The largest Supercenter in the world, covering {{convert|260000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}} on two floors, is located in Crossgates Commons in Albany, New York.{{cite news |url = http://www.albany.com/news/walmart.cfm |title = Largest Walmart Supercenter In US Finds Home In Albany NY |publisher = Albany.com |access-date = December 23, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081012220544/http://www.albany.com/news/walmart.cfm |archive-date = October 12, 2008}}

A typical supercenter sells approximately 120,000 items, compared to the 35 million products sold in Walmart's online store.{{cite news |last = Boyle |first = Matthew |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/wal-mart-to-discount-1-million-online-items-picked-up-in-stores |title = Wal-Mart to Discount One Million Online Items Picked Up in Stores |work = Bloomberg News |date = April 12, 2017 |access-date = April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170412042938/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/wal-mart-to-discount-1-million-online-items-picked-up-in-stores |archive-date = April 12, 2017}}

The "Supercenter" name has since been phased out, with these stores now simply referred to as "Walmart", since the company introduced the new Walmart logo in 2008. However, the branding is still used in Walmart's Canadian stores (spelled as "Supercentre" in Canadian English).{{cite web |url = http://walmartcanada.ca/Pages/History/168/170/170 |title = Walmart Canada – Corporate Information |publisher = Walmartcanada.ca |access-date = April 24, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141204021716/http://walmartcanada.ca/Pages/History/168/170/170 |archive-date = December 4, 2014 }}

File:Wal-Mart Albemarle Rd Charlotte, NC (7580001150).jpg (Store #1821)|alt=The exterior of a Walmart Discount Store in Charlotte, North Carolina]]

Walmart Discount Stores, also branded as simply "Walmart", are discount department stores with sizes varying from {{convert|30000|to|221000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, with the average store covering {{convert|105000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. They carry general merchandise and limited groceries. Some newer and remodeled discount stores have an expanded grocery department, similar to Target's PFresh department. Many of these stores also feature a garden center, pharmacy, Tire & Lube Express, optical center, one-hour photo processing lab, portrait studio, a bank branch, a cell phone store, and a fast food outlet. Some also have gasoline stations.{{cite news |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-29/Walmart-to-offer-customers-discount-gas-as-prices-rise.html |title = Walmart to Offer Customers Discount Gas As Prices Rise |publisher = Bloomberg L.P. |date = August 29, 2012 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |author = Welch, David |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120907230614/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-29/wal-mart-to-offer-customers-discount-gas-as-prices-rise.html |url-status=live |archive-date = September 7, 2012 }} Discount Stores were Walmart's original concept, though they have since been surpassed by Supercenters.

In 1990, Walmart opened its first Bud's Discount City location in Bentonville. Bud's operated as a closeout store, much like Big Lots. Many locations were opened to fulfill leases in shopping centers as Walmart stores left and moved into newly built Supercenters. All of the Bud's Discount City stores had closed or converted into Walmart Discount Stores by 1997.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart shuttering 7-year old Bud's chain |url = http://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=5J0R-BSJ1-DYBW-21K0&csi=8399&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper = DSN Retailing Today |date = August 4, 1997 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307161925/http://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=5J0R-BSJ1-DYBW-21K0&csi=8399&oc=00240&perma=true |archive-date = March 7, 2016}}

At its peak in 1996, there were 1,995 Walmart Discount Stores;{{Cite web|title=Wal-mart Stores, Inc. Form 10-k Annual Report for the Year Ended January 31, 1996 |website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/0000104169-96-000002.txt|access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025842/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/0000104169-96-000002.txt|url-status=live}} as of October 31, 2022, that number was dropped to 365.

File:Walmart Neighborhood Market, GA125, Valdosta.jpg (Store #6732)]]

Walmart Neighborhood Market, former also known as "Neighborhood Market by Walmart" or informally known as "Neighborhood Walmart",{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2023 |title=What Is Walmart Neighborhood Market? (All Questions Answered) |website= U.S. Retail |url=https://theusretail.com/walmart-neighborhood-market/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619061730/https://theusretail.com/walmart-neighborhood-market/ |url-status=live }} is Walmart's chain of stores ranging from {{convert|28000|to|65000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}} and averaging about {{convert|42000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, about a fifth of the size of a Walmart Supercenter.{{cite news |title = What it's like to shop at Walmart's store of the future, which is becoming a threat to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's |last1 = Peterson |first1 = Hayley |url = http://www.businessinsider.com/walmarts-store-of-the-future-photos-2015-10 |newspaper = Business Insider |date = October 27, 2015 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160326155516/http://www.businessinsider.com/walmarts-store-of-the-future-photos-2015-10 |archive-date = March 26, 2016}} The first Walmart Neighborhood Market opened ten years after the first Supercenter opened, but Walmart did not heavily focus on this model until the 2010s.{{cite news |title = Why Walmart suddenly thinks smaller is better |last1 = Loeb |first1 = Walter |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2014/06/16/why-walmart-suddenly-thinks-smaller-is-better/ |magazine = Forbes |date = June 16, 2014 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923092938/http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2014/06/16/why-walmart-suddenly-thinks-smaller-is-better/ |archive-date = September 23, 2015}}

The stores predominantly sells groceries, but also features a modest amount of household items and even general merchandise, in a format of a general stores. The focus on three of Walmart's major sales categories: groceries, which account for about 55 percent of the company's revenue,{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart: The $200 billion grocer |last1 = Fox |first1 = Emily Jane |url = https://money.cnn.com/2013/01/31/news/companies/walmart-grocery/ |newspaper = CNNMoney |date = January 31, 2013 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170113214317/http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/31/news/companies/walmart-grocery |archive-date = January 13, 2017}}{{Cite journal|last=Wahba|first=Phil|date=February 1, 2018|title=Retailers' Secret Weapon Is ... Food?|url=|journal=Fortune|pages=15|issn=0015-8259|quote=...U.S. grocery business that makes up 56% of its revenue....}} pharmacy, and, at some stores, fuel.{{cite news |title = What it's like inside Wal-Mart's new marketplace that's a threat to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's |last1 = Peterson |first1 = Hayley |url = http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-walmarts-neighborhood-markets-2015-7 |newspaper = Business Insider |date = July 4, 2015 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081213/http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-walmarts-neighborhood-markets-2015-7 |archive-date = March 4, 2016}} For groceries and consumables, the stores sell fresh produce, deli and bakery items, prepared foods, meat, dairy, organic, general grocery and frozen foods, in addition to cleaning products and pet supplies.{{cite news |title = Walmart unveils five new Neighborhood Markets in Denver area |last1 = Mossman |first1 = John |url = http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20894819/walmart-unveils-five-new-neighborhood-markets-denver-area |newspaper = The Denver Post |date = June 20, 2012 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150702014738/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20894819/walmart-unveils-five-new-neighborhood-markets-denver-area |archive-date = July 2, 2015}} Some stores offer wine and beer sales and drive-through pharmacies. Some stores, such as one at Midtown Center in Bentonville, Arkansas, offer made-to-order pizza with a seating area for eating.{{cite news |last1=Gute |first1=Melissa |date=November 12, 2015 |title=Neighborhood Market opens in Midtown Center |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |url=http://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=5HC4-34K1-DY70-0096&csi=8399&oc=00240&perma=true |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905004036/http://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=5HC4-34K1-DY70-0096&csi=8399&oc=00240&perma=true |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |quote=While most Neighborhood Markets have a drink bar and a few have a pizza program, this market also has a seating area where people can eat lunch, Kirk said. It's an amenity included because of location. The pizza program allows customers to either select pre-made pizzas or build their own and have them oven-baked there in 5 minutes. The market has 31,000 square feet and includes a deli and bakery. It offers fresh produce, meat and other groceries, according to a news release. It also includes a pharmacy with a drive-thru window.}} Customers can also use Walmart's site-to-store operation and pick up online orders at Walmart Neighborhood Market stores just like the Supercenters and Discount Stores{{cite news |title = Walmart Neighborhood Market, first on West Coast, opens Friday in West Linn |last1 = Stark |first1 = Rachel |url = http://www.oregonlive.com/west-linn/index.ssf/2012/05/walmart_neighborhood_market_fi.html |newspaper = The Oregonian |date = May 21, 2012 |access-date = March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151123230536/http://www.oregonlive.com/west-linn/index.ssf/2012/05/walmart_neighborhood_market_fi.html |archive-date = November 23, 2015}}

Products at Walmart Neighborhood Market stores have the same prices as those at Walmart's larger supercenters. A Moody's Investors Service analyst said the wider company's pricing structure gives the chain of grocery stores a "competitive advantage" over competitors Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Trader Joe's.

Neighborhood Market stores expanded slowly at first as a way to fill gaps between Walmart Supercenters and Discount Stores in existing markets. In its first 12 years, the company opened about 180 Walmart Neighborhood Markets. By 2010, Walmart said it was ready to accelerate its expansion plans for the grocery stores.{{cite news |last1=Birchall |first1=Jonathan |date=October 14, 2010 |title=Walmart takes smaller format path to growth |newspaper=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a7757fe6-d737-11df-9cd5-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a7757fe6-d737-11df-9cd5-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2016 |quote=With about 180 stores, the retailer has focused on using them to fill in between Supercenters in areas such as Dallas, Las Vegas and Orlando, rather than to develop new markets.}} Similar to the Supercenter models, the Neighborhood Market branded had phased out overtime, with several stores now adopting the Walmart Market branding, with the name of the municipality put with "market". {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} there were 682 Walmart Neighborhood Markets, each employing between 90 and 95 full-time and part-time workers.{{cite news |title = Walmart to build Neighborhood Market |last1 = Darrow |first1 = Dennis |url = http://www.chieftain.com/news/top/3896796-120/walmart-neighborhood-pueblo-store |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150920083814/http://www.chieftain.com/news/top/3896796-120/walmart-neighborhood-pueblo-store |url-status=dead |archive-date = September 20, 2015 |newspaper = Pueblo Chieftain |date = August 31, 2015 |access-date = March 16, 2016 }} The total number of Neighborhood Markets and other small formats combined is 783.

File:Walmart Neighborhood Market, Alma.JPG in September 2015 (Store #4229). This location closed in 2016 as part of a plan to close 269 stores globally.|alt=]]

Walmart opened Supermercado de Walmart locations to appeal to Hispanic communities in the United States.{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5676N820090708 |title = Walmart woos Hispanics with new Supermercado |work = Reuters |access-date = December 20, 2009 |date = July 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100118093414/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5676N820090708 |archive-date = January 18, 2010}} The first one, a {{convert|39000|sqft|sqm|abbr=off|adj=on|sp=us}} store in the Spring Branch area of Houston, opened on April 29, 2009.{{cite news |last = Moreno |first = Jenalia |title = Walmart gives Supermercado concept a local tryout |url = https://www.chron.com/business/article/Wal-Mart-gives-Supermercado-concept-a-local-tryout-1724512.php |access-date = January 19, 2014 |newspaper = Houston Chronicle |date = April 30, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131215100003/http://www.chron.com/business/article/Wal-Mart-gives-Supermercado-concept-a-local-tryout-1724512.php |archive-date = December 15, 2013}} The store was a conversion of an existing Walmart Neighborhood Market.{{cite news |author = Wollam, Allison |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/03/23/story1.html |title = Walmart chooses Houston as test market for Supermercado de Walmart |work = Houston Business Journal |date = March 20, 2009 |access-date = June 28, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101101063338/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/03/23/story1.html |archive-date = November 1, 2010}} In 2009, another Supermercado de Walmart opened in Phoenix, Arizona.{{cite web |author = Burwell, Sloane |url = http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2009/06/viva_el_mercado_supermercado_d.php |title = Viva El Mercado Supermercado De Walmart |work = Phoenix New Times |date = June 17, 2009 |access-date = February 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604093916/http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2009/06/viva_el_mercado_supermercado_d.php |archive-date = June 4, 2011}} Both locations closed in 2014.{{cite web |url = http://swamplot.com/supermercado-de-walmart-americas-first-and-last-latino-themed-walmart-grocery-store-has-closed-down-for-good/2014-11-06/ |title = Supermercado de Walmart, America's First and Last Latino-Themed Walmart Grocery Store, Has Closed Down for Good |work = Swamplot |date = January 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129043403/http://swamplot.com/supermercado-de-walmart-americas-first-and-last-latino-themed-walmart-grocery-store-has-closed-down-for-good/2014-11-06/ |archive-date = January 29, 2016}} In 2009, Walmart opened "Más Club", a warehouse retail operation patterned after Sam's Club. Its lone store also closed in 2014.

Walmart Express was a chain of smaller discount stores with a range of services from groceries to check cashing and gasoline service. The concept was focused on small towns deemed unable to support a larger store and large cities where space was at a premium. Walmart planned to build 15 to 20 Walmart Express stores, focusing on Arkansas, North Carolina, and Chicago, by the end of its fiscal year in January 2012. {{As of|2014|September|df=US|post=,}} Walmart re-branded all 22{{Cite web|title=fy15-q3-unit-counts-for-website-disclosure|url=https://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_downloads/Historical%20Unit%20Count/fy15-q3-unit-counts-for-website-disclosure.pdf|access-date=November 21, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120004735/https://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_downloads/Historical%20Unit%20Count/fy15-q3-unit-counts-for-website-disclosure.pdf|url-status=live}} of its Express format stores to Neighborhood Markets in an effort to streamline its retail offer. It continued to open new Express stores under the Neighborhood Market name. {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} there were 101 small-format stores in the United States. These include 92 other small formats, 8 convenience stores and 1 pickup location. On January 15, 2016, Walmart announced that it would be closing 269 stores globally, including the 102 Neighborhood Markets that were formerly or originally planned to be Express stores.{{cite web |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-to-close-269-stores-globally-1452868122?mod=e2fb |title = Wal-Mart Makes Rare Retreat on Home Turf |author = Sarah Nassauer and Kate Davidson |date = January 16, 2016 |work = The Wall Street Journal |access-date = February 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160126044434/http://www.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-to-close-269-stores-globally-1452868122?mod=e2fb |archive-date = January 26, 2016}}

Between 2002 and 2022, Walmart owned the Amigo supermarkets chain in Puerto Rico. In 2022, Walmart announced that it would sell its Amigo stores to Pueblo Inc. and focus on modernizing its 18 Supercenter and Division 1 formats and seven Sam's Clubs stores.{{cite news |last1=Ramírez-Santos |first1=Hernando |title=Walmart Puerto Rico to Sell its 11 Amigo Stores to Supermercados Pueblo |url=https://abasto.com/en/news/walmart-puerto-rico-to-sell-its-11-amigo-stores-to-supermercados-pueblo/ |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=Abasto |date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013153605/https://abasto.com/en/news/walmart-puerto-rico-to-sell-its-11-amigo-stores-to-supermercados-pueblo/ |url-status=live }}

In September 2006, Walmart announced a pilot program to sell generic drugs at $4 per prescription. The program was launched at stores in the Tampa, Florida, area, and by January 2007 had been expanded to all stores in Florida. While the average price of generics is $29 per prescription, compared to $102 for name-brand drugs, Walmart maintains that it is not selling at a loss, or providing them as an act of charity—instead, they are using the same mechanisms of mass distribution that it uses to bring lower prices to other products.{{cite news |url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6119292 |title = Walmart to Sell Generic Drugs for $4 |last = Silberner |first = Joanne |date = September 21, 2006 |publisher = All Things Considered (NPR) |access-date = March 10, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100127064901/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6119292 |archive-date = January 27, 2010}} Many of Walmart's low cost generics are imported from India, where they are made by drug makers that include Ranbaxy Laboratories and Cipla.{{cite news |url = http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=326184 |title = Pharma firms boost Walmart revenues |newspaper = Business Standard |date = June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025420/http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=326184 |archive-date = January 17, 2013 }}

On February 6, 2007, the company launched a "beta" version of a movie download service, which sold about 3,000 films and television episodes from all major studios and television networks.{{cite news |last1=Morphy |first1=Erika |title=Wal-Mart Launches Online Movie Download Store |url=https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/wal-mart-launches-online-movie-download-store-55603.html |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=E-Commerce Times |date=February 6, 2007 |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002192018/https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/wal-mart-launches-online-movie-download-store-55603.html |url-status=live }} The service was discontinued on December 21, 2007, due to low sales.{{cite news |first1 = Matt |last1 = Richtel |first2 = Brad |last2 = Stone |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/technology/01iht-walmart.1.8968826.html |title = Walmart's movie download service passes into ignominy |work = The New York Times |date = January 1, 2008 |access-date = January 2, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904032106/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/01/technology/01iht-walmart.1.8968826.html |archive-date = September 4, 2015}}

In 2008, Walmart started a pilot program in the small grocery store concept called Marketside in the metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area. The four stores closed in 2011.{{cite news |last = Jarman |first = Max |title = Walmart closes its 4 Marketside stores in the Phoenix area. |url = https://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/10/16/20111016biz-walmart1016.html |access-date = July 22, 2012 |newspaper = The Arizona Republic |date = October 16, 2011 |archive-date = January 20, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120120123927/http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/10/16/20111016biz-walmart1016.html |url-status = dead }}

File:WalmartPickupRichmondHill3.jpg

In 2015, Walmart began testing a free grocery pickup service, allowing customers to select products online and choose their pickup time. At the store, a Walmart employee loads the groceries into the customer's car. {{As of|2017|December|17|df=US|post=,}} the service is available in 39 U.S. states.{{Cite web|url=https://grocery.walmart.com/locations/index.html|title=Online Grocery Shopping {{!}} Free Pickup {{!}} Walmart Grocery|website=grocery.walmart.com|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101214/https://grocery.walmart.com/locations/index.html|url-status=live}}

In May 2016, Walmart announced a change to ShippingPass, its three-day shipping service, and that it will move from a three-day delivery to two-day delivery to remain competitive with Amazon.Sarah Perez, TechCrunch. "[https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/12/walmart-begins-testing-2-day-shipping-service-to-take-on-amazon-prime/ Walmart begins testing 2-day shipping service to take on Amazon Prime] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525041834/https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/12/walmart-begins-testing-2-day-shipping-service-to-take-on-amazon-prime/ |date=May 25, 2017 }}." May 12, 2016. May 13, 2016. Walmart priced it at 49 dollars per year, compared to Amazon Prime's 99-dollar-per-year price.{{cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/06/29/walmart-amps-up-campaign-to-take-on-amazon-prime/ |title = Walmart amps up campaign to take on Amazon Prime |newspaper = The Washington Post |first = Sarah |last = Halzack |date = June 29, 2016 |access-date = October 6, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161011192121/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/06/29/walmart-amps-up-campaign-to-take-on-amazon-prime/ |archive-date = October 11, 2016}}{{cite news |url = https://www.yahoo.com/tech/amazon-prime-day-deals-not-160751363.html |title = Walmart Competes with Amazon.com |last = Chang |first = Lulu |date = July 11, 2016 |access-date = July 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160709211447/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/amazon-prime-day-deals-not-160751363.html |archive-date = July 9, 2016}}

In June 2016, Walmart and Sam's Club announced that they would begin testing a last-mile grocery delivery that used services including Uber, Lyft, and Deliv, to bring customers' orders to their homes. Walmart customers would be able to shop using the company's online grocery service at grocery.walmart.com, then request delivery at checkout for a small fee. The first tests were planned to go live in Denver and Phoenix.Sarah Perez, TechCrunch. "[https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/02/walmart-will-test-last-mile-grocery-delivery-via-uber-lyft-and-deliv/ Walmart will test last-mile grocery delivery via Uber, Lyft and Deliv] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525042145/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/02/walmart-will-test-last-mile-grocery-delivery-via-uber-lyft-and-deliv/ |date=May 25, 2017 }}." June 2, 2016. June 3, 2016. Walmart announced on March 14, 2018, that it would expand online delivery to 100 metropolitan regions in the United States, the equivalent of 40 percent of households, by the end of the year of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/business/dealbook/walmart-online-delivery-groceries.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314154238/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/business/dealbook/walmart-online-delivery-groceries.html |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Walmart Expands Online Grocery Delivery to 100 Cities|last1=Hsu|first1=Tiffany|date=March 14, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2018|last2=Wingfield|first2=Nick|issn=0362-4331}}

Walmart's Winemakers Selection private label wine was introduced in June 2018 in about 1,100 stores. The wine, from domestic and international sources, was described by Washington Post food and wine columnist Dave McIntyre as notably good for the inexpensive ($11 to $16 per bottle) price level.{{cite news |first1=Dave |last1=McIntyre |title=Walmart's new line of wines is just the juice that bargain-hunting Americans need |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/walmarts-new-line-of-wines-is-just-the-juice-that-bargain-hunting-americans-need/2018/09/28/ee376a82-c281-11e8-b338-a3289f6cb742_story.html |access-date=September 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125114828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/walmarts-new-line-of-wines-is-just-the-juice-that-bargain-hunting-americans-need/2018/09/28/ee376a82-c281-11e8-b338-a3289f6cb742_story.html |url-status=live }}

In October 2019, Walmart announced that customers in 2,000 locations in 29 states can use the grocery pickup service for their adult beverage purchases. Walmart will also deliver adult beverages from nearly 200 stores across California and Florida.{{Cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/online-retail/walmart-grocery-pickup-now-offers-adult-beverages-2000-stores|title=Walmart Grocery Pickup now offers adult beverages at 2,000 stores|date=October 30, 2019|website=Supermarket News|access-date=October 31, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031193306/https://www.supermarketnews.com/online-retail/walmart-grocery-pickup-now-offers-adult-beverages-2000-stores|url-status=live}}

In February 2020, Walmart announced a new membership program called, "Walmart +". The news came shortly after Walmart announced the discontinuation of its personal shopping service, Jetblack.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/walmart-creating-a-membership-program-called-walmart-2020-02-27|title=Walmart creating a membership program called Walmart+|last=Garcia|first=Tonya|website=MarketWatch|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127211346/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/walmart-creating-a-membership-program-called-walmart-2020-02-27|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/27/21154357/walmart-plus-walmart-grocery-delivery-unlimited-membership-amazon-prime|title=Walmart is quietly working on an Amazon Prime competitor called Walmart+|last=Rey|first=Jason Del|date=February 27, 2020|website=Vox|access-date=February 28, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126075452/https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/27/21154357/walmart-plus-walmart-grocery-delivery-unlimited-membership-amazon-prime|url-status=live}}

Locations as of October 1, 2022

{{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} Walmart's international operations comprised 5,266 stores and 800,000 workers in 23 countries outside the United States.{{cite web |url = http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/international |title = Walmart International |publisher = Walmart |access-date = January 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140118112937/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/international |archive-date = January 18, 2014}} There are wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the UK. With 2.2 million employees worldwide, the company is the largest private employer in the U.S. and Mexico, and one of the largest in Canada.{{cite web |title = Walmart Corporate: Our Business |url = http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/ |publisher = Walmart |access-date = January 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140103075916/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/ |archive-date = January 3, 2014}} In fiscal 2019 Walmart's international division sales were {{US$|120.824 billion}}, or 23.7 percent of total sales. International retail units range from {{convert|1400|to|186000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}, while wholesale units range from {{convert|24000|to|158000|sqft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Kathryn McLay is the president and CEO of Walmart International.{{Cite web |title=Walmart International CEO Kath McLay says her first weeks were like 'drinking from a firehose' |url=https://fortune.com/2023/10/18/walmart-international-ceo-kath-mclay-sales-strategy-sams-club/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=Fortune |language=en}}

Walmart also owns 51 percent of the Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO), which, {{as of|2022|10|31|df=US|lc=y|post=,}} consists of 868 stores, including 263 stores in Guatemala (under the Paiz, Walmart Supercenter, Despensa Familiar, and Maxi Dispensa banners), 102 stores in El Salvador (under the Despensa Familiar, La Despensa de Don Juan, Walmart Supercenter, and Maxi Despensa banners), 111 stores in Honduras (including the Paiz, Walmart Supercenter, Dispensa Familiar, and Maxi Despensa banners), 102 stores in Nicaragua (including the Pali, La Unión, Maxi Pali, and Walmart Supercenter banners), and 290 stores in Costa Rica (including the Maxi Pali, Mas X Menos, Walmart Supercenter, and Pali banners)."[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/000119312506066792/d10k.htm Walmart SEC Form 10-K] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710094440/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/000119312506066792/d10k.htm |date=July 10, 2017 }}." U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. January 31, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2006.

{{Main|Líder}}

In January 2009, the company acquired a controlling interest in the largest grocer in Chile, Distribución y Servicio D&S SA.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart names Chile head Ostale chief of Latin America |last1 = Stanford |first1 = Duane D. |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-11/wal-mart-names-chile-head-ostale-chief-of-latin-america |magazine = Bloomberg |date = January 11, 2013 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306075617/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-11/wal-mart-names-chile-head-ostale-chief-of-latin-america |archive-date = March 6, 2016}}{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart offers to acquire Chile's largest grocery chain |last1 = Bustillo |first1 = Miguel |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122979761002424187 |newspaper = The Wall Street Journal |date = December 22, 2008 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307015629/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122979761002424187 |archive-date = March 7, 2016}} In 2010, the company was renamed Walmart Chile.{{cite news |title = D&S cambia su razón social por Wal Mart Chile |url = https://www.df.cl/noticias/empresas/d-s-cambia-su-razon-social-por-wal-mart-chile/2010-10-28/110300.html |newspaper = Diario Financiero |date = October 28, 2010 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140633/https://www.df.cl/noticias/empresas/d-s-cambia-su-razon-social-por-wal-mart-chile/2010-10-28/110300.html |archive-date = March 6, 2016}} {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} Walmart Chile operates around 384 stores under the banners Lider, Express de Lider, Superbodega Acuenta, and Central Mayorista.

{{Main|Walmart de México y Centroamérica}}

File:Walmart avila camacho .jpg

Walmart opened its first international store in Mexico in 1991.

{{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} Walmart's Mexico division, the largest outside the U.S., consisted of 2,804 stores. Walmart in Mexico operates Walmart Supercenter, Sam's Club, Bodega Aurrera, Mi Bodega Aurrera, Bodega Aurrera Express and Walmart Express.

{{Main|Walmart Canada}}

File:RichmondHillWalmart.jpg, Canada in September 2017|alt=]]

Walmart has operated in Canada since it acquired 122 stores comprising the Woolco division of Woolworth Canada, Inc on January 14, 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-walmart-set-its-sights-on-the-canadian-market-1.5418192|title=When Walmart set its sights on the Canadian market|work=CBC Archives|date=January 14, 1994|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030021318/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-walmart-set-its-sights-on-the-canadian-market-1.5418192|url-status=live}} {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} it operates 402 locations (including 343 supercentres and 59 discount stores) and, {{as of|2015|June|df=US|lc=y|post=,}} it employs 89,358 people, with a local home office in Mississauga, Ontario.{{cite web |title = Walmart Canada: Corporate Information |url = http://walmartcanada.ca/Pages/About%20Us/168/168/168?lang=en |publisher = Walmart |access-date = January 19, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121004202059/http://walmartcanada.ca/Pages/About%20Us/168/168/168?lang=en |archive-date = October 4, 2012 }} Walmart Canada's first three Supercentres (spelled in Canadian English) opened in November 2006 in Ancaster, London, and Stouffville, Ontario.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/wal-mart-unveils-plans-to-open-up-to-14-supercentres-in-2007-1.572886|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114024143/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/11/07/wawlmart-superstores.html|url-status=live|archive-date=November 14, 2012|title=Wal-Mart unveils plans to open up to 14 supercentres in 2007 – CBC News|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2018}}

In 2010, approximately one year after its incorporation of Schedule 2 (foreign-owned, deposit-taking) of Canada's Bank Act,{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-08-08/html/notice-avis-eng.html|title= Canada Gazette – Government Notices|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220034007/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-08-08/html/notice-avis-eng.html |archive-date=December 20, 2010 }} Walmart Canada Bank was introduced with the launch of the Walmart (Canada) Rewards MasterCard.{{cite news |title = Walmart Canada Bank launches Walmart Rewards MasterCard |url = http://smr.newswire.ca/en/walmart-canada-bank/walmart-canada-bank-launches-walmart-rewards-mastercard |access-date = June 29, 2011 |newspaper = newswire.ca |date = June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100621125620/http://smr.newswire.ca/en/walmart-canada-bank/walmart-canada-bank-launches-walmart-rewards-mastercard |archive-date = June 21, 2010 }} Less than ten years later, however, on May 17, 2018, Wal-Mart Canada announced it had reached a definitive agreement to sell Wal-Mart Canada Bank to First National co-founder Stephen Smith and private equity firm Centerbridge Partners, L.P., on undisclosed financial terms, though it added that it would still be issuer of the Walmart (Canada) Rewards MasterCard.{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/walmart-sells-canadian-banking-operation-to-u-s-firm-canadian-financier-1.3935092|title=Walmart sells Canadian banking operation to U.S. firm, Canadian financier|date=May 17, 2018|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=August 26, 2019|publisher=CTV News Online|archive-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207023705/https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/walmart-sells-canadian-banking-operation-to-u-s-firm-canadian-financier-1.3935092|url-status=live}}

On April 1, 2019, Centerbridge Partners, L.P. and Stephen Smith jointly announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition of Wal-Mart Canada Bank and that it was to be renamed Duo Bank of Canada, to be styled simply as Duo Bank.{{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/stephen-smith-and-centerbridge-partners-l-p-complete-acquisition-of-walmart-canada-bank-847394003.html|title=Stephen Smith and Centerbridge Partners, L.P. Complete Acquisition of Walmart Canada Bank|date=April 1, 2019|website=Canada Newswire|publisher=CISION|access-date=August 26, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008210929/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/stephen-smith-and-centerbridge-partners-l-p-complete-acquisition-of-walmart-canada-bank-847394003.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Duo Bank |url=https://www.duobank.com/ |access-date=August 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021045414/https://www.duobank.com/ |url-status=live }} Though exact ownership percentages were never revealed in either company announcement, it has also since been revealed that Duo Bank was reclassified as a Schedule 1 (domestic, deposit-taking){{cite web |title=Our Services |url=https://www.duobank.com/our-services/ |website=Duo Bank |access-date=August 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021035426/https://www.duobank.com/our-services/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Who We Regulate |date=October 30, 2012 |url=http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/Eng/wt-ow/Pages/wwr-er.aspx?sc=1&gc=1&ic=1#WWRLink111 |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions |access-date=August 26, 2019 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222171549/https://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/Eng/wt-ow/Pages/wwr-er.aspx?sc=1&gc=1&ic=1#WWRLink111 |url-status=live }} federally chartered bank of the Bank Act in Canada from the Schedule 2 (foreign-owned or -controlled, deposit-taking) that it had been, which indicates that Stephen Smith, as a noted Canadian businessman, is in a controlling position.

On September 28, 2010, Walmart announced it would buy Massmart Holdings Ltd. of Johannesburg, South Africa in a deal worth over {{US$|4 billion}} giving the company its first footprint in Africa.{{cite news |url = http://www.journalnow.com/business/head-of-wal-mart-tells-wfu-audience-of-plans-for/article_5ad539d5-d616-55ba-ab27-aeaf45b06074.html |title = Head of Walmart tells WFU audience of plans for growth over next 20 years |last = Daniel |first = Fran |work = Winston-Salem Journal |date = September 29, 2010 |access-date = March 7, 2016 |archive-date = June 19, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160619100256/http://www.journalnow.com/business/head-of-wal-mart-tells-wfu-audience-of-plans-for/article_5ad539d5-d616-55ba-ab27-aeaf45b06074.html |url-status = live }} {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} it has 411 stores, including 361 stores in South Africa (under the banners Game Foodco, CBW, Game, Builders Express, Builders Warehouse, Cambridge, Rhino, Makro, Builders Trade Depot, Jumbo, and Builders Superstore), 11 stores in Botswana (under the banners CBW, Game Foodco, and Builders Warehouse), 4 stores in Ghana (under the Game Foodco banner), 4 stores in Kenya (under the banners Game Foodco and Builders Warehouse), 3 stores in Lesotho (under the banners CBW and Game Foodco), 2 stores in Malawi (under the Game banner), 6 stores in Mozambique (under the banners Builders Warehouse, Game Foodco, CBW, and Builders Express), 5 stores in Namibia (under the banners Game Foodco and Game), 5 stores in Nigeria (under the banners Game and Game Foodco), 1 store in Eswatini (under the CBW banner), 1 store in Tanzania (under the Game Foodco banner), 1 store in Uganda (under the Game banner), and 7 stores in Zambia (under the banners CBW, Game Foodco, Builders Warehouse, and Builders Express).

{{anchor|Asia}}

File:20170212 Bilingual signs in Walmart Hangzhou Toys.jpg, China in February 2017|alt=An aisle in a Walmart store in China]]

Walmart has joint ventures in China and several majority-owned subsidiaries. {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} Walmart China (沃尔玛 Wò'ērmǎ){{cite web |title = Walmart China – Official website |url = http://www.wal-martchina.com/walmart/wminchina_map.htm |website = wal-martchina.com |publisher = Walmart |access-date = March 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160314042735/http://wal-martchina.com/walmart/wminchina_map.htm |archive-date = March 14, 2016}} operates 369 stores under the Walmart Supercenter and Sam's Club banners.

In February 2012, Walmart announced that the company raised its stake to 51 percent in Chinese online supermarket Yihaodian to tap rising consumer wealth and help the company offer more products. Walmart took full ownership in July 2015.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart buys out China e-commerce firm Yihaodian in online push |last1 = Jourdan |first1 = Adam |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wal-mart-stores-china-yihaodian-idUSKCN0PX0D220150723 |work = Reuters |date = July 23, 2015 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082807/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-wal-mart-stores-china-yihaodian-idUSKCN0PX0D220150723 |archive-date = March 4, 2016}}

In October 2016, Walmart launched the Food Safety Collaboration Center in Beijing, China. The goal of this investment is to collaborate with the local government, promote the use of blockchain technology in tracking pork supply in China, and enhance the transparency and safety of the food supply chain.{{Cite journal |last=Kamath |first=Reshma |date=2018-06-12 |title=Food Traceability on Blockchain: Walmart's Pork and Mango Pilots with IBM |url=https://jbba.scholasticahq.com/article/3712-food-traceability-on-blockchain-walmart-s-pork-and-mango-pilots-with-ibm |journal=The Journal of the British Blockchain Association |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.31585/jbba-1-1-(10)2018}}

In December 2021, the Chinese Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection warned Walmart about removing products made from inputs from Xinjiang in response to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.{{Cite news|last=Lin|first=Liza|date=December 31, 2021|title=China Warns Walmart Against Removing Products Made in Xinjiang|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-warns-walmart-against-removing-products-made-in-xinjiang-11640967233|access-date=January 2, 2022|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101213807/https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-warns-walmart-against-removing-products-made-in-xinjiang-11640967233|url-status=live}}

File:Best Price Modern Wholesale, Hyderabad, India(10 Aug 2019).jpg]]

In November 2006, the company announced a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises to operate in India. As foreign corporations were not allowed to enter the retail sector directly, Walmart operated through franchises and handled the wholesale end of the business.Giridharadas A., Rai S. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/27/business/worldbusiness/27cnd-walmart.html "Walmart to Open Hundreds of Stores in India"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701110549/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/27/business/worldbusiness/27cnd-walmart.html |date=July 1, 2017 }}. The New York Times. November 27, 2006. Retrieved November 27, 2006. The partnership involved two joint ventures—Bharti manages the front end, involving opening of retail outlets while Walmart takes care of the back end, such as cold chains and logistics. Walmart operates stores in India under the name Best Price Modern Wholesale.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart to run India wholesale business single-handedly |last1 = Mathew |first1 = Jerin |url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/wal-mart-bharti-india-retail-fdi-reforms-512464 |newspaper = International Business Times |date = October 9, 2013 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306222500/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/wal-mart-bharti-india-retail-fdi-reforms-512464 |archive-date = March 6, 2016}} The first store opened in Amritsar on May 30, 2009. On September 14, 2012, the Government of India approved 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retails, subject to approval by individual states, effective September 20, 2012.{{cite news |title = Govt allows FDI in multi-brand retail, aviation |url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Govt-allows-FDI-in-multi-brand-retail-aviation/articleshow/16397960.cms |date = September 14, 2012 |agency = Reuters |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120915090846/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Govt-allows-FDI-in-multi-brand-retail-aviation/articleshow/16397960.cms |archive-date = September 15, 2012 |work = The Times of India |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title = Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (FC-I Section), Press Note No.5 (2012 Series) – multi brand retail |publisher = Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India |date = September 20, 2012 |url = http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn5_2012.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160222062405/http://dipp.nic.in/english/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn5_2012.pdf |archive-date = February 22, 2016}} Scott Price, Walmart's president and CEO for Asia, told The Wall Street Journal that the company would be able to start opening Walmart stores in India within two years.{{cite news |url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Walmart-hopes-to-open-first-India-store-in-18-months-Report/articleshow/16488898.cms |title = Walmart hopes to open first India store in 18 months: Report |work = The Times of India |date = September 21, 2012 |access-date = September 27, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226212215/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Walmart-hopes-to-open-first-India-store-in-18-months-Report/articleshow/16488898.cms |archive-date = February 26, 2015}} Expansion into India faced some significant problems. In November 2012, Walmart admitted to spending {{US$|25 million}} lobbying the Indian National Congress;{{cite news |title = Probe Walmart 'bribe', says opposition |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Probe-Walmart-bribe-says-opposition/articleshow/17564444.cms |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025430/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-11/india/35748837_1_bharti-walmart-indian-market-fdi |url-status = live |archive-date = January 17, 2013 |newspaper = The Times of India |date = December 11, 2012 }} lobbying is conventionally considered bribery in India.{{cite news |title = US defends Walmart India lobbying |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20674717 |access-date = December 28, 2012 |publisher = BBC News India |date = December 11, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121214073534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20674717 |archive-date = December 14, 2012}} Walmart is conducting an internal investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.{{cite news |last1 = Clifford |first1 = Stephanie |last2 = Barstow |first2 = David |title = Walmart Inquiry Reflects Alarm on Corruption |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/business/Walmart-expands-foreign-bribery-investigation.html |access-date = December 28, 2012 |work = The New York Times |date = November 15, 2012 |archive-date = July 29, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200729162555/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/business/Walmart-expands-foreign-bribery-investigation.html |url-status = live }} Bharti Walmart suspended a number of employees, rumored to include its CFO and legal team, to ensure "a complete and thorough investigation".{{cite news |last = Bajaj |first = Vikas |title = India Unit of Walmart Suspends Employees |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/business/global/Walmarts-india-venture-suspends-executives-as-part-of-bribery-inquiry.html |access-date = December 28, 2012 |newspaper = The New York Times |date = November 23, 2012 |archive-date = July 29, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200729171405/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/business/global/Walmarts-india-venture-suspends-executives-as-part-of-bribery-inquiry.html |url-status = live }} In October 2013, Bharti and Walmart separated to pursue business independently.{{cite news |title = Bharti, Wal-Mart end joint venture |url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Bharti-Wal-Mart-end-joint-venture/articleshow/23848813.cms |date = October 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161210181157/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Bharti-Wal-Mart-end-joint-venture/articleshow/23848813.cms |archive-date = December 10, 2016}}

On May 9, 2018, Walmart announced its intent to acquire a 77% majority stake in the Indian e-commerce company Flipkart for $16 billion, in a deal that was completed on August 18, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-bets-15-billion-on-an-e-commerce-passage-to-india-1525690804|title=Walmart Bets $15 Billion on an E-Commerce Passage to India|last1=Purnell|first1=Newley|date=May 7, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 7, 2018|last2=Bellman|first2=Eric|issn=0099-9660|last3=Abrams|first3=Corinne|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031102/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-bets-15-billion-on-an-e-commerce-passage-to-india-1525690804|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/walmart-expects-to-close-flipkart-deal-by-the-end-of-2018-2583161.html|title=Walmart expects to close Flipkart deal by the end of 2018|website=Moneycontrol|date=June 5, 2018|access-date=June 6, 2018|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028155507/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/walmart-expects-to-close-flipkart-deal-by-the-end-of-2018-2583161.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Walmart completes deal to acquire 77% stake in Flipkart, to invest $2 billion – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/walmart-completes-deal-to-acquire-77-stake-in-flipkart-to-invest-2-billion/articleshow/65454382.cms |website=The Times of India |date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020318/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/walmart-completes-deal-to-acquire-77-stake-in-flipkart-to-invest-2-billion/articleshow/65454382.cms |url-status=live }} {{As of|2022|10|31|df=US|post=,}} there are 28 Best Price Modern Wholesale locations.

In the 1990s, Walmart tried with a large financial investment to get a foothold in both German and Indonesian retail markets.

Walmart entered Indonesia with the opening of stores in Lippo Supermall (now known as Supermal Karawaci) and Megamall Pluit (now known as Pluit Village) respectively, under a joint-venture agreement with local conglomerate Lippo Group. Both stores closed down due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.{{Cite web|date=July 9, 2021|title=5 brand terkenal di dunia yang gagal ekspansi di Indonesia!|url=https://bisnika.hops.id/4-brand-terkenal-di-dunia-yang-gagal-ekspansi-di-indonesia/|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=Info Bisnis dan Keuangan|language=en-US|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719061856/https://bisnika.hops.id/4-brand-terkenal-di-dunia-yang-gagal-ekspansi-di-indonesia/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Profil – Walmart|url=https://www.merdeka.com/walmart/profil/|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=merdeka.com|language=en|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719061851/https://www.merdeka.com/walmart/profil/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Pintak|first=Lawrence|date=March 13, 1998|title=Lippo Group sues Wal-Mart over Indonesia pullout (Washington Times)|url=https://pintak.com/1998/03/12/lippo-group-sues-wal-mart-over-indonesia-pullout-washington-times/|access-date=July 30, 2021|website=Lawrence Pintak|language=en|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730073131/https://pintak.com/1998/03/12/lippo-group-sues-wal-mart-over-indonesia-pullout-washington-times/|url-status=dead}}

In Germany, Walmart took over supermarket chain Wertkauf with its 21 stores for DM750 million in 1997[http://www.ka-news.de/wirtschaft/karlsruhe/Karlsruhe;art127,52059 "Metro takes over Walmart"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618032055/http://www.ka-news.de/wirtschaft/karlsruhe/Karlsruhe;art127,52059 |date=June 18, 2009 }}. (in German). ka-news. August 3, 2006 and the following year Walmart acquired 74 InterSPAR stores for DM1.3 billion.[http://www.zeit.de/1999/40/Schnitte "Cuts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301024822/http://www.zeit.de/1999/40/Schnitte |date=March 1, 2016 }}. (in German). Die Zeit.[https://archive.today/20140119084037/http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/news/Walmart-in-deutschland-ein-zwerg-536713.html "A Dwarf in Germany"]. (in German). Stern. February 18, 2005. The German market at this point was an oligopoly with high competition among companies which used a similar low price strategy as Walmart. As a result, Walmart's low price strategy yielded no competitive advantage. Walmart's corporate culture was not viewed positively among employees and customers, particularly Walmart's "statement of ethics", which attempted to restrict relationships between employees, a violation of articles 1 and 2 of German constitution. The statement also violated German labor laws and led to a public discussion in the media, resulting in a bad reputation among customers.{{cite web |date=November 15, 2005 |title=Auch Wal-Mart-Mitarbeiter dürfen lieben |trans-title=Walmart employees may love too |url=http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/549609.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530013145/http://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/549609.html |archive-date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |work=Stern |language=de}}{{Cite news |last=Sucher |first=Jörn |date=2004-11-01 |title=Wal-Mart in Deutschland: Verpatzte Invasion |trans-title=Walmart in Germany: Botched Invasion |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/wal-mart-in-deutschland-verpatzte-invasion-a-325251.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}} In July 2006, Walmart announced its withdrawal from Germany due to sustained losses. The stores were sold to the German company Metro during Walmart's fiscal third quarter.{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5223432.stm |title = Walmart Abandons German Venture |work = BBC News |date = July 28, 2006 |access-date = July 31, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090115081000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5223432.stm |archive-date = January 15, 2009}} Walmart did not disclose its losses from its German investment, but they were estimated to be around {{Euro}}3 billion.{{cite magazine |url = http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,429017,00.html |title = Spiegel: Why the american Titan failed |language=de |magazine = Der Spiegel |date = July 28, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120118130337/http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,429017,00.html |archive-date = January 18, 2012}}

File:Hiper Bompreço.JPG in Natal, Brazil in May 2008]]

In 2004, Walmart bought the 118 stores in the Bompreço supermarket chain in northeastern Brazil. In late 2005, it took control of the Brazilian operations of Sonae Distribution Group through its new subsidiary, WMS Supermercados do Brasil, thus acquiring control of the Nacional and Mercadorama supermarket chains, the leaders in the Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná states, respectively. None of these stores were rebranded. {{As of|2014|01|df=US|post=,}} Walmart operated 61 Bompreço supermarkets, 39 Hiper Bompreço stores. It also ran 57 Walmart Supercenters, 27 Sam's Clubs, and 174 Todo Dia stores. With the acquisition of Bompreço and Sonae, by 2010, Walmart was the third-largest supermarket chain in Brazil, behind Carrefour and Pão de Açúcar.{{cite web |title = Walmart Corporate: Brazil |url = http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/locations/brazil |publisher = Walmart |access-date = January 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140211004203/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/locations/brazil |archive-date = February 11, 2014}}

Walmart Brasil, the operating company, has its head office in Barueri, São Paulo State, and regional offices in Curitiba, Paraná; Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul; Recife, Pernambuco; and Salvador, Bahia."[http://www.walmartbrasil.com.br/sobre-o-walmart/no-brasil/ No Brasil] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510133406/http://www.walmartbrasil.com.br/sobre-o-walmart/no-brasil/ |date=May 10, 2015 }}." Walmart Brasil. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Walmart Brasil operates under the banners Todo Dia, Nacional, Bompreço, Walmart Supercenter, Maxxi Atacado, Hipermercado Big, Hiper Bompreço, Sam's Club, Mercadorama, Walmart Posto (Gas Station), Supermercado Todo Dia, and Hiper Todo Dia. Recently, the company started the conversion process of all Hiper Bompreço and Big stores into Walmart Supercenters and Bompreço, Nacional and Mercadorama stores into the Walmart Supermercado brand.

Since August 2018, Walmart Inc. only holds a minority stake in Walmart Brasil, which was renamed Grupo Big on August 12, 2019,{{Cite web|last=Feliciano|first=Dorah|date=August 13, 2019|title=Walmart Brazil Renamed 'Grupo Big' and Plans to Expand its Stores|url=https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/brazil/walmart-brazil-gets-renamed-to-grupo-big-and-plans-to-expand-its-stores/|website=The Rio Times|access-date=August 14, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127170932/https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/brazil/walmart-brazil-gets-renamed-to-grupo-big-and-plans-to-expand-its-stores/|url-status=live}} with 20% of the company's shares, and private equity firm Advent International holding 80% ownership of the company.{{cite news |title = Advent International to acquire majority stake in Walmart Brazil |work = Advent International |date = June 4, 2018 |url = https://www.adventinternational.com/advent-international-acquire-majority-stake-walmart-brazil/ |publisher = Advent International |access-date = October 23, 2018 |archive-date = December 16, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201216224224/https://www.adventinternational.com/advent-international-acquire-majority-stake-walmart-brazil/ |url-status = live |last1 = Ramsey |first1 = Andrea }} On March 24, 2021, it was announced that Carrefour would be acquiring Grupo Big.{{Cite web|title=Carrefour reinforces its leading position in Brazil with the acquisition of Grupo BIG|url=https://www.carrefour.com/en/actuality/carrefour-reinforces-its-leading-position-brazil-acquisition-grupo-big|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=Carrefour Group|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518195452/https://www.carrefour.com/en/actuality/carrefour-reinforces-its-leading-position-brazil-acquisition-grupo-big|url-status=live}}

File:Walmart Supercenter Argentina.jpg

Walmart Argentina was founded in 1995 and operates stores under the banners Walmart Supercenter, Changomas, Mi Changomas, and Punto Mayorista. On November 6, 2020, it was announced that Walmart has sold its Argentine operations to Grupo de Narváez and renamed Hiper Changomas.{{Cite web|title=Grupo de Narváez Acquires Full Ownership of Walmart Argentina|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/11/06/grupo-de-narvaez-acquires-full-ownership-of-walmart-argentina|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=Corporate – US|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214161714/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/11/06/grupo-de-narvaez-acquires-full-ownership-of-walmart-argentina|url-status=live}}

File:Asda, Dalgety Bay, Nov 2008 - geograph.org.uk - 1045503.jpg

Walmart's UK subsidiary Asda (which retained its name after being acquired by Walmart) is based in Leeds and accounted for 42.7 percent of 2006 sales of Walmart's international division. In contrast to the U.S. operations, Asda was originally and still remains primarily a grocery chain, but with a stronger focus on non-food items than most UK supermarket chains other than Tesco. In 2010 Asda acquired stores from Netto UK. In addition to small suburban Asda Supermarkets, larger stores are branded Supercentres. Other banners include Asda Superstores, Asda Living, and Asda Petrol Fueling Station.[http://www.asda.jobs/all-about/who-we-are/stores.html ASDA Careers: All about ASDA Stores]. Retrieved August 7, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803164941/http://www.asda.jobs/all-about/who-we-are/stores.html |date=August 3, 2011 }} In July 2015, Asda updated its logo featuring the Walmart Asterisks behind the first 'A' in the Logo. In May 2018, Walmart announced plans to sell Asda to rival Sainsbury's for $10.1 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Walmart would have received a 42% stake in the combined company and about £3 billion in cash.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-to-merge-british-unit-asda-with-u-k-rival-sainsbury-1525070178|title=Walmart to Sell British Unit Asda to U.K. Rival Sainsbury|last=Chaudhuri|first=Saabira|date=April 30, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 2, 2018|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042529/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-to-merge-british-unit-asda-with-u-k-rival-sainsbury-1525070178|url-status=live}} However, in April 2019, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority blocked the proposed sale of Asda to Sainsburys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/business/sainsburys-asda-takeover-blocked/index.html|title=Walmart's $9 billion deal to sell its UK supermarkets is dead|first1=Daniel|last1=Shane|first2=Ivana|last2=Kottasová|work=CNN|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003534/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/business/sainsburys-asda-takeover-blocked/index.html|url-status=live}}

On October 2, 2020, it was announced that Walmart will sell a majority stake of Asda to a consortium of Zuber and Mohsin Issa (the owners of EG Group) and private equity firm TDR Capital for £6.8bn, pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54383131|title=Asda bought by billionaire Issa brothers in £6.8bn deal|publisher=BBC|date=October 2, 2020|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221003122/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54383131|url-status=live}}

In Japan, Walmart owned 100 percent of Seiyu (西友 Seiyū) {{as of|2008|df=US|lc=y|post=.}}{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart's painful lessons |last1 = Boyle |first1 = Matthew |url = http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/oct2009/ca20091013_227022.htm |magazine = Bloomberg |date = October 13, 2009 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307205619/http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/oct2009/ca20091013_227022.htm |archive-date = March 7, 2016 }}{{cite web |url = http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/locations/#/japan |title = Walmart Corporate – Japan |publisher = Walmart |access-date = January 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104115055/http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/locations/#/japan |archive-date = January 4, 2014}} It operates under the Seiyu (Hypermarket), Seiyu (Supermarket), Seiyu (General Merchandise), Livin, and Sunny banners.

On November 16, 2020, Walmart announced they would be selling 65% of their shares in the company to the private-equity firm KKR in a deal valuing 329 stores and 34,600 employees at $1.6 billion. Walmart is supposed to retain 15% and a seat on the board, while a joint-venture between KKR and Japanese company Rakuten Inc. will receive 20%.{{Cite news|last=Narioka|first=Peter Landers and Kosaku|date=November 16, 2020|title=Walmart Retreats Around Globe to Focus on E-Commerce|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-retreats-around-globe-to-focus-on-e-commerce-11605518960|access-date=November 17, 2020|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222213136/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-retreats-around-globe-to-focus-on-e-commerce-11605518960|url-status=live}}

An April 2012 investigation by The New York Times reported the allegations of a former executive of Walmart de Mexico that, in September 2005, the company had paid bribes via local fixers to officials throughout Mexico in exchange for construction permits, information, and other favors, which gave Walmart a substantial advantage over competitors.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/business/at-wal-mart-in-mexico-a-bribe-inquiry-silenced.html |title = Vast Mexican Bribery Case Hushed Up by Walmart After High-Level Struggle |newspaper = The New York Times |first = David |last = Barstow |date = April 21, 2012 |access-date = April 22, 2012 |archive-date = September 10, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190910013428/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/business/at-wal-mart-in-mexico-a-bribe-inquiry-silenced.html |url-status = live }} Walmart investigators found credible evidence that Mexican and American laws had been broken. Concerns were also raised that Walmart executives in the United States had "hushed up" the allegations. A follow-up investigation by The New York Times, published December 17, 2012, revealed evidence that regulatory permission for siting, construction, and operation of nineteen stores had been obtained through bribery. There was evidence that a bribe of {{US$|52,000}} was paid to change a zoning map, which enabled the opening of a Walmart store a mile from a historical site in San Juan Teotihuacán in 2004.{{cite news |title = No, the Conquistadors Are Not Back. It's Just Walmart. |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/international/americas/28mexico.html |access-date = December 18, 2012 |newspaper = The New York Times |date = September 28, 2004 |author = James C. McKinley Jr. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121218213105/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/international/americas/28mexico.html |archive-date = December 18, 2012}} After the initial article was released, Walmart released a statement denying the allegations and describing its anti-corruption policy. While an official Walmart report states that it had found no evidence of corruption, the article alleges that previous internal reports had indeed turned up such evidence before the story became public.{{cite news |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/lydiadishman/2012/04/22/walmart-in-mexico/ |title = What Walmart Might Do With Allegations of Bribery in Mexico |first = Lydia |last = Dishman |date = April 22, 2012 |access-date = April 23, 2012 |work = Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120423132905/http://www.forbes.com/sites/lydiadishman/2012/04/22/walmart-in-mexico/ |archive-date = April 23, 2012}} Forbes magazine contributor Adam Hartung also commented that the bribery scandal was a reflection of Walmart's "serious management and strategy troubles", stating, "[s]candals are now commonplace ... [e]ach scandal points out that Walmart's strategy is harder to navigate and is running into big problems".{{cite news |last = Hartung |first = Adam |title = WalMart's Mexican Bribery Scandal Will Sink It Like an Iceberg Sank the Titanic |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2012/04/26/walmarts-mexican-bribery-scandal-will-sink-it-like-the-icerberg-sank-the-titanic/ |work = Forbes |access-date = July 2, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120703221317/http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2012/04/26/walmarts-mexican-bribery-scandal-will-sink-it-like-the-icerberg-sank-the-titanic/ |archive-date = July 3, 2012}}

In 2012, there was an incident with CJ's Seafood, a crawfish processing firm in Louisiana that was partnered with Walmart, that eventually gained media attention for the mistreatment of its 40 H-2B visa workers from Mexico. These workers experienced harsh living conditions in tightly packed trailers outside of the work facility, physical threats, verbal abuse, and were forced to work day-long shifts. Many of the workers were afraid to take action about the abuse due to the fact that the manager threatened the lives of their family members in the U.S. and Mexico if the abuse were to be reported. Eight of the workers confronted management at CJ's Seafood about the mistreatment; however, the management denied the abuse allegations and the workers went on strike. The workers then took their stories to Walmart due to their partnership with CJ's. While Walmart was investigating the situation, the workers collected 150,000 signatures of supporters who agreed that Walmart should stand by the workers and take action. In June 2012, the visa workers held a protest and day-long hunger strike outside of the apartment building where a Walmart board member resided. Following this protest, Walmart announced its final decision to no longer work with CJ's Seafood. Less than a month later, the Department of Labor fined CJ's Seafood "approximately $460,000 in back-pay, safety violations, wage and hour violations, civil damages, and fines for abuses to the H-2B program. The company has since shut down."{{Cite web |url = https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/mexican-guest-workers-gain-walmart-federal-response-louisiana-usa-2012 |title = Mexican guest workers gain Walmart, federal response, Louisiana, USA, 2012 |last = Capron |first = Christopher |date = November 11, 2012 |website = Global Nonviolent Action Database |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170929000345/https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/mexican-guest-workers-gain-walmart-federal-response-louisiana-usa-2012 |archive-date = September 29, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date = September 28, 2017}}

{{As of|2012|December|df=US|post=,}} internal investigations were ongoing into possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/business/walmart-bribes-teotihuacan.html |title = The Bribery Aisle: How Wal-Mart Got Its Way in Mexico |work = The New York Times |date = December 17, 2012 |access-date = April 29, 2013 |author1 = Barstow, David |author2 = von Bertrab, Alejandra Xanic |author-link1 = David Barstow |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130322234030/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/business/walmart-bribes-teotihuacan.html |archive-date = March 22, 2013}} Walmart has invested {{US$|99 million}} on internal investigations, which expanded beyond Mexico to implicate operations in China, Brazil, and India.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart inquiry reflects alarm on corruption |last1 = Clifford |first1 = Stephanie |last2 = Barnstow |first2 = David |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/business/wal-mart-expands-foreign-bribery-investigation.html |newspaper = The New York Times |date = November 15, 2012 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051846/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/business/wal-mart-expands-foreign-bribery-investigation.html |archive-date = September 25, 2015}}{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart bribery probe expands past Mexico to Brazil, China and India |last1 = Brown |first1 = Abram |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2012/11/15/probe-into-wal-mart-bribery-past-mexico-to-brazil-china-and-india/ |magazine = Forbes |date = November 15, 2012 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132316/http://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2012/11/15/probe-into-wal-mart-bribery-past-mexico-to-brazil-china-and-india/#6973d1417561 |archive-date = March 4, 2016}} The case has added fuel to the debate as to whether foreign investment will result in increased prosperity, or if it merely allows local retail trade and economic policy to be taken over by "foreign financial and corporate interests".{{cite news |title = India government agency probes Wal-Mart investments |last1 = Sharma |first1 = Malavika |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-05/india-government-agency-probes-wal-mart-investments |magazine = Bloomberg |date = December 5, 2012 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160314064550/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-05/india-government-agency-probes-wal-mart-investments |archive-date = March 14, 2016}}{{cite news |last1 = Thirani |first1 = Neha |last2 = Kumar |first2 = Hari |title = Fact-Checking the F.D.I. Debates |url = http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/fact-checking-the-f-d-i-debates/ |access-date = December 28, 2012 |newspaper = The New York Times / International Herald Tribune |date = December 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121212010207/http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/fact-checking-the-f-d-i-debates/ |archive-date = December 12, 2012}}

{{Main|Sam's Club}}

Sam's Club is a chain of warehouse clubs that sell groceries and general merchandise, often in bulk. Locations generally range in size from {{convert|32000|-|168000|sqft|abbr=on}}, with an average club size of approximately {{convert|134000|sqft|abbr=on}}. The first Sam's Club was opened by Walmart, Inc. in 1983 in Midwest City, Oklahoma{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.samsclub.com/content/?id=3&atg=524|title=About Sam's Club|publisher=Sam's Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328175957/http://pressroom.samsclub.com/content/?id=3&atg=524|archive-date=March 28, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=November 1, 2007}} under the name "Sam's Wholesale Club". The chain was named after its founder Sam Walton. As of October 31, 2022, Sam's Club operated 600 membership warehouse clubs and accounted for 11.3% of Walmart's revenue at $57.839 billion in fiscal year 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-11/sam-s-club-closes-series-of-locations-on-same-day-as-wage-hike|title=Wal-Mart Closes Multiple Sam's Club Locations on the Same Day It Hiked Wages|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031424/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-11/sam-s-club-closes-series-of-locations-on-same-day-as-wage-hike|url-status=live}} Christopher Nicholas is the president and CEO of Sam's Club.{{Cite web |last1=Rajesh |first1=Ananya Mariam |last2=Cavale |first2=Siddharth |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Walmart promotes CEO of Sam's Club to head International division |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/walmarts-international-division-head-retire-2023-08-16/ |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=Reuters}}

Based in San Bruno, California, Walmart's Global eCommerce division provides online retailing for Walmart, Sam's Club, Asda, and all other international brands. There are several locations in the United States in California and Oregon: San Bruno, Sunnyvale, Brisbane, and Portland. Locations outside of the United States include Shanghai (China), Leeds (United Kingdom), and Bangalore (India).

{{Main|List of Walmart brands}}

About 40 percent of products sold in Walmart are private labels, which are produced for the company through contracts with manufacturers. Walmart began offering private label brands in 1991, with the launch of Sam's Choice, a line of drinks produced by Primo Water for Walmart. Sam's Choice quickly became popular and by 1993, was the third-most-popular beverage brand in the United States.{{cite news |url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n19_v32/ai_14495621 |title = Sam's Choice Climbs Beverage Brand List – Walmart's Sam's American Choice Beverage Brand |work = Discount Store News |date = October 4, 1993 |access-date = April 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070624152410/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n19_v32/ai_14495621 |archive-date = June 24, 2007 }} Other Walmart brands include Great Value and Equate in the U.S. and Canada and Smart Price in Britain. A 2006 study talked of "the magnitude of mind-share Walmart appears to hold in the shoppers' minds when it comes to the awareness of private label brands and retailers".{{cite web |author = Reyes, Sonia |url = http://www.pbmproducts.com/press.aspx?ID=183 |title = Study: Walmart Private Brands Are Catching On |date = August 21, 2006 |access-date = December 16, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025424/http://www.pbmproducts.com/press.aspx?ID=183 |archive-date = January 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In 2010, the company teamed with Procter & Gamble to produce Secrets of the Mountain and The Jensen Project, two-hour family movies which featured the characters using Walmart and Procter & Gamble–branded products. The Jensen Project also featured a preview of a product to be released in several months in Walmart stores.{{cite web |title = Walmart Pushing Limited $199 Kinect Pre-Order Bundle |url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/201049/walmart_pushing_limited_199_kinect_preorder_bundle.html |work = PC World |date = July 14, 2010 |access-date = July 18, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100718104454/http://www.pcworld.com/article/201049/walmart_pushing_limited_199_kinect_preorder_bundle.html |archive-date = July 18, 2010}}{{cite news |title = Television review: 'The Jensen Project' |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-16-la-et-jensen-project-20100716-story.html |access-date = July 16, 2010 |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = July 16, 2010 |first1 = Mary |last1 = McNamara |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100719233456/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/16/entertainment/la-et-jensen-project-20100716 |archive-date = July 19, 2010}} A third movie, A Walk in My Shoes, also aired in 2010 and a fourth is in production.{{When|date=November 2012}}{{cite news |title = Second P&G Family Friendly Movie Airs July 16 On NBC |last = Kiesewette |first = John |url = http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2010/07/09/second-pg-family-friendly-movie-airs-july-16-on-nbc/ |work = The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date = July 9, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100713045542/http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2010/07/09/second-pg-family-friendly-movie-airs-july-16-on-nbc/ |archive-date = July 13, 2010 }} Walmart's director of brand marketing also serves as co-chair of the Association of National Advertisers's Alliance for Family Entertainment.{{cite news |last = Stanley |first = T.L. |title = Advertisers earmark $10 million for family-friendly TV |url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/06/advertisers-earmark-10-million-for-familyfriendly-tv.html |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |date = June 22, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160202175736/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/06/advertisers-earmark-10-million-for-familyfriendly-tv.html |archive-date = February 2, 2016}}

Launched in 2009, Walmart's Marketplace stayed dormant until 2016 when Walmart purchased e-commerce company Jet.com, founded in 2014 by Marc Lore, to start competing with Amazon.com.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketplacepulse.com/articles/ten-years-of-walmart-marketplace|title=Ten Years of Walmart Marketplace|website=Marketplace Pulse|date=September 5, 2019|access-date=November 2, 2023|archive-date=November 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102183234/https://www.marketplacepulse.com/articles/ten-years-of-walmart-marketplace|url-status=live}} Jet.com has acquired its own share of online retailers such as Hayneedle in March 2016, Shoebuy.com in December 2016, and ModCloth in March 2017. Walmart also acquired Parcel, a delivery service in New York, on September 29, 2017.{{cite news |first1=Michael |last1=Corkery |title=Walmart Finally Makes It to the Big Apple |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/16/business/walmart-jet-nyc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916204518/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/16/business/walmart-jet-nyc.html |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=September 16, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Walmart Announces the Acquisition of Parcel, a Technology-Based, Same-Day and Last-Mile Delivery Company |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/article/walmart-announces-the-acquisition-of-parcel-a-technology-based-same-day-and-last-mile-delivery-company |website=corporate.walmart.com |date=October 3, 2017 |publisher=Walmart |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921101548/https://corporate.walmart.com/article/walmart-announces-the-acquisition-of-parcel-a-technology-based-same-day-and-last-mile-delivery-company |url-status=dead }}

On February 15, 2017, Walmart acquired Moosejaw, an online active outdoor retailer, for approximately $51 million. Moosejaw brought with it partnerships with more than 400 brands, including Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, and Arc'teryx.{{cite magazine |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraheller/2017/02/15/take-that-amazon-walmart-buys-moosejaw-for-51-million/ |title = Take That Amazon: Walmart Buys Moosejaw For $51 Million |last = Heller |first = Laura |access-date = February 22, 2017 |date = February 15, 2017 |magazine = Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170223051021/http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraheller/2017/02/15/take-that-amazon-walmart-buys-moosejaw-for-51-million/ |archive-date = February 23, 2017}}

Marc Lore, Walmart's U.S. e-commerce CEO, said that Walmart's existing physical infrastructure of almost 5,000 stores around the U.S. will enhance their digital expansion by doubling as warehouses for e-commerce without increasing overhead.{{cite news|last1=Nusca|first1=Andrew|title=5 Moves Walmart Is Making to Compete With Amazon and Target|url=http://fortune.com/2017/09/27/5-moves-walmart-is-making-to-compete-with-amazon-and-target/|access-date=December 8, 2017|work=Fortune|date=September 27, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100046/http://fortune.com/2017/09/27/5-moves-walmart-is-making-to-compete-with-amazon-and-target/|url-status=live}} {{As of|2017|post=,}} Walmart offers in-store pickup for online orders at 1,000 stores with plans to eventually expand the service to all of its stores.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-takes-aim-at-amazon-1508811540 Wal-Mart Takes Aim at Amazon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024235435/https://www.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-takes-aim-at-amazon-1508811540 |date=October 24, 2017 }}, WSJ, published October 23, 2017

On May 9, 2018, Walmart announced its intent to acquire a 77% controlling stake in the Indian e-commerce website Flipkart for $16 billion{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/09/walmart-agrees-deal-to-buy-a-majority-stake-in-indias-flipkart.html|title=Walmart agrees to a $16 billion deal to buy a majority stake in India's Flipkart|last=Browne|first=Ryan|date=May 9, 2018|publisher=CNBC|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032928/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/09/walmart-agrees-deal-to-buy-a-majority-stake-in-indias-flipkart.html|url-status=live}} (beating bids by Amazon.com), subject to regulatory approval. Following its completion, the website's management will report to Marc Lore.{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/859/10416918000038/filing-main.htm |title=Walmart Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date May 9, 2018 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218065827/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/859/10416918000038/filing-main.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44050180|title=Walmart wins battle for India's Flipkart|date=May 9, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023510/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44050180|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/walmart-acquires-flipkart-for-16-bn-worlds-largest-ecommerce-deal/articleshow/64095145.cms|title=Walmart acquires Flipkart for $16 bn, world's largest ecommerce deal|date=May 9, 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020101/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/walmart-acquires-flipkart-for-16-bn-worlds-largest-ecommerce-deal/articleshow/64095145.cms|url-status=live}} Completion of the deal was announced on August 18, 2018.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/walmart-completes-deal-to-acquire-77-stake-in-flipkart-to-invest-2-billion/articleshow/65454382.cms|title=Walmart completes deal to acquire 77% stake in Flipkart, to invest $2 billion – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=August 18, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020318/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/walmart-completes-deal-to-acquire-77-stake-in-flipkart-to-invest-2-billion/articleshow/65454382.cms|url-status=live}}

The company's partnership with subscription service Kidbox was announced on April 16, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/16/walmart-partners-with-subscription-based-childrens-clothing-startup-kidbox/|title=Walmart partners with subscription-based children's clothing startup, Kidbox|website=TechCrunch|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-date=March 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330072440/https://guce.techcrunch.com/consent?brandType=nonEU&done=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2019%2F04%2F16%2Fwalmart-partners-with-subscription-based-childrens-clothing-startup-kidbox%2F&gcrumb=divf54g%3D|url-status=live}}

On May 19, 2020, Walmart announced that it was shutting down Jet.com, with all subsequent visitors to the site directed to the Walmart website instead.{{Cite web |last=Repko |first=Melissa |date=2020-05-19 |title=Walmart winds down Jet.com four years after $3.3 billion acquisition of e-commerce company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/19/walmart-winds-down-jetcom-four-years-after-3point3-billion-acquisition.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

File:Walmart Home Office sign.jpg in June 2009|alt=An American flag waving above a Walmart sign at the entrance of an office park]]

File:NetApp Building 1.jpg (when it was still NetApp headquarters){{cite news |last1=TRD Staff |title=Walmart subleases 719K sf office campus in Sunnyvale |url=https://therealdeal.com/san-francisco/2023/11/10/walmart-subleases-719k-sf-office-campus-in-sunnyvale/ |work=The Real Deal |date=November 10, 2023}}]]

Walmart is headquartered in the Walmart Home Office complex in Bentonville, Arkansas. In 2025, Walmart closed several U.S. offices and consolidated its U.S. corporate associates into its Bentonville headquarters or its West Coast offices in Sunnyvale, California.{{cite news |last1=Kang |first1=Jaewon |title=Walmart to Cut Hundreds of Jobs, Relocate Staff to Main Hubs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-04/walmart-to-cut-hundreds-of-jobs-relocate-staff-to-main-hubs |work=Bloomberg |date=February 4, 2025 |url-access=subscription}}

The company's business model is based on selling a wide variety of general merchandise at low prices. Doug McMillon became Walmart's CEO on February 1, 2014. He has also worked as the head of Sam's Club and Walmart International.{{cite news |title = The man who's reinventing Walmart |last1 = O'Keefe |first1 = Brian |url = http://fortune.com/2015/06/04/walmart-ceo-doug-mcmillon/ |magazine = Fortune |date = June 4, 2015 |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150717074806/http://fortune.com/2015/06/04/walmart-ceo-doug-mcmillon/ |archive-date = July 17, 2015}} The company refers to its employees as "associates". All Walmart stores in the U.S. and Canada also have designated "greeters" at the entrance, a practice pioneered by Sam Walton and later imitated by other retailers. Greeters are trained to help shoppers find what they want and answer their questions.{{cite book |last = Kendall |first = Gerald I. |title = Securing the future: strategies for exponential growth using the theory of constraints. |year = 1998 |publisher = CRC Press |location = Boca Raton, Florida |isbn = 1-57444-197-3 |page = [https://archive.org/details/securingfuture00gera_0/page/106 106] |url = https://archive.org/details/securingfuture00gera_0 |url-access = registration |quote = walmart greeter. |access-date = March 3, 2016 }}

For many years, associates were identified in the store by their signature blue vest, but this practice was discontinued in June 2007 and replaced with khaki pants and polo shirts. The wardrobe change was part of a larger corporate overhaul to increase sales and rejuvenate the company's stock price.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart Replaces Blue Vests |url = https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3288829 |access-date = June 28, 2011 |work = ABC News |date = June 18, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120124055431/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3288829 |archive-date = January 24, 2012}} In September 2014, the uniform was again updated to bring back a vest (paid for by the company) for store employees over the same polos and khaki or black pants paid for by the employee. The vest is navy blue for Walmart employees at Supercenters and discounts stores, lime green for Walmart Neighborhood Market employees, and yellow for self-check-out associates; door greeters, and customer service managers. All three state "Proud Walmart Associate" on the left breast and the "Spark" logo covering the back.{{cite news |last1 = SANCHEZ |first1 = KARIZZA |title = Walmart Employees Are Pissed About the Company's Swagless New Dress Code |url = http://www.complex.com/style/2014/09/walmart-employees-not-happy-with-new-dress-code |access-date = March 29, 2015 |work = Complex |date = September 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150408004424/http://www.complex.com/style/2014/09/walmart-employees-not-happy-with-new-dress-code |archive-date = April 8, 2015}} Reportedly one of the main reasons the vest was reintroduced was that some customers had trouble identifying employees.{{cite news |last1 = Lanning |first1 = Curt |title = Walmart Changes Up Dress Code For Employees |url = http://5newsonline.com/2014/09/05/walmart-changes-up-dress-code-for-employees/ |access-date = March 29, 2015 |work = 5 News Online |publisher = KFSM |date = September 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150111233733/http://5newsonline.com/2014/09/05/walmart-changes-up-dress-code-for-employees/ |archive-date = January 11, 2015}} In 2016, self-checkout associates, door greeters and customer service managers began wearing a yellow vest to be better seen by customers. By requiring employees to wear uniforms that are made up of standard "streetwear", Walmart is not required to purchase the uniforms or reimburse employees which are required in some states, as long as that clothing can be worn elsewhere. Businesses are only legally required to pay for branded shirts and pants or clothes that would be difficult to wear outside of work.{{cite news |last1 = Berman |first1 = Jillian |title = Walmart Workers Complain They Can't Afford New Dress Code |url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/09/walmart-dress-code_n_5792224.html |access-date = March 29, 2015 |work = HuffPost |publisher = TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. |date = September 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150403092448/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/09/walmart-dress-code_n_5792224.html |archive-date = April 3, 2015}}

Unlike many other retailers, Walmart does not charge slotting fees to suppliers for their products to appear in the store.{{cite web |author = Nelson, Emily |url = http://www.columbia.edu/~ss957/media_ref_pages/TooManyChoices.html |title = Too Many Choices – Nine Kinds of Kleenex Tissue, Eggo Waffles in 16 Flavors: Blame Brand Managers |work = The Wall Street Journal |date = April 20, 2001 |access-date = August 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060503002041/http://www.columbia.edu/~ss957/media_ref_pages/TooManyChoices.html |archive-date = May 3, 2006 }} Instead, it focuses on selling more-popular products and provides incentives for store managers to drop unpopular products.

From 2006 to 2010, the company eliminated its layaway program. In 2011, the company revived its layaway program.Stephanie Clifford, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/business/wal-mart-brings-back-layaway.html Wal-Mart Again Offers Layaway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801212203/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/business/wal-mart-brings-back-layaway.html |date=August 1, 2020 }}, The New York Times (August 20, 2012).Stephanie Clifford, [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/business/wal-mart-to-bring-back-layaway.html Wal-Mart to Bring Back Layaway for Holidays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903203838/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/business/wal-mart-to-bring-back-layaway.html |date=September 3, 2019 }}, The New York Times (September 8, 2011).

Walmart introduced its Site-To-Store program in 2007, after testing the program since 2004 on a limited basis. The program allows walmart.com customers to buy goods online with a free shipping option, and have goods shipped to the nearest store for pickup.{{cite web |author = McCarthy, Caroline |url = https://www.cnet.com/news/free-shipping-from-walmart-com-with-store-pickup/ |title = Free Shipping from Walmart.com ... with Store Pickup |publisher = CNET |date = March 6, 2007 |access-date = November 1, 2007 |archive-date = May 20, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200520060317/https://www.cnet.com/news/free-shipping-from-walmart-com-with-store-pickup/ |url-status = live }}

On September 15, 2017, Walmart announced that it would build a new headquarters in Bentonville to replace its current 1971 building and consolidate operations that have spread out to 20 different buildings throughout Bentonville.{{cite web |title = Wal-Mart reveals new headquarter plans |url = http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/sep/15/wal-mart-reveals-new-headquarter-plans/ |website = Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette |access-date = September 15, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170915232820/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/sep/15/wal-mart-reveals-new-headquarter-plans/ |archive-date = September 15, 2017 |date = September 15, 2017 }}

According to watchdog group Documented, in 2020 Walmart contributed $140,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fund-raising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association.{{cite web|url=https://documented.net/2021/01/republican-attorneys-general-dark-money-group-organized-protest-preceding-capitol-mob-attack/|title=Republican Attorneys General Dark Money Group Organized Protest Preceding Capitol Attack|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2021|publisher=Documented|first=Jamie|last=Corey|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127222102/https://documented.net/2021/01/republican-attorneys-general-dark-money-group-organized-protest-preceding-capitol-mob-attack/|url-status=live}}

For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2019, Walmart reported net income of {{US$|6.6 billion}} on $514 billion of revenue. The company's international operations accounted for $120 billion, or 23.7 percent, of its $510 billion of sales.{{cite web |title=Wal-Mart Form 10K: Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/000010416915000011/wmtform10-kx13115.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025155844/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/104169/000010416915000011/wmtform10-kx13115.htm |archive-date=October 25, 2015 |access-date=December 25, 2015 |publisher=United States Securities and Exchange Commission}} Walmart is the world's 23rd-largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000 list, and the largest public corporation when ranked by revenue.{{cite news |date=April 2011 |title=The World's Biggest Public Companies |newspaper=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/global2000/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630031717/http://www.forbes.com/global2000/list |archive-date=June 30, 2011}}

The key trends for Walmart are (as of the financial year ending January 31):{{Cite web |title=Walmart Investor Relations - Financials Investor Relations > Financials |url=https://stock.walmart.com/financials/annual-reports/default.aspx |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=stock.walmart.com}}{{Cite web |title=Walmart Fundamentalanalyse {{!}} KGV {{!}} Kennzahlen |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/Walmart-Aktie/US9311421039 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=boerse.de |language=de}}

Walmart is governed by an eleven-member board of directors elected annually by shareholders. Gregory B. Penner, son-in-law of S. Robson Walton and the grandson-in-law of Sam Walton, serves as chairman of the board. Doug McMillon serves as president and chief executive officer. Current members of the board are:{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://corporate.walmart.com/about/board-of-directors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703052556/https://corporate.walmart.com/about/board-of-directors |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=Corporate – US |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Sorkin, Andrew R. |author2=Rusli, Evelyn M. |date=July 16, 2012 |title=A Yahoo Search Calls Up a Chief From Google. |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/googles-marissa-mayer-tapped-as-yahoos-chief/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720011353/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/googles-marissa-mayer-tapped-as-yahoos-chief/ |archive-date=July 20, 2012}}

• Gregory B. Penner, chairman of the board of directors of Walmart Inc. and general partner of Madrone Capital Partners
• Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
• Timothy P. Flynn, retired CEO of KPMG International
• Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI
• Carla A. Harris, Vice-chairman of Wealth Management, head of multicultural client strategy, managing director, and senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley
• Tom Horton, senior advisor at Warburg Pincus, LLC, and retired chairman and CEO of American Airlines
• Marissa A. Mayer, co-founder of Lumi Labs, Inc., and former president and CEO of Yahoo!, Inc.
• Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart
• Bob Moritz, retired chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Brian Niccol, chairman and CEO of Starbucks
• Randall Stephenson, retired chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc.
• S. Robson "Rob" Walton, retired chairman of the board of directors of Walmart Inc.
• Steuart Walton, founder of RZC Investments, LLC.

Notable former members of the board include Hillary Clinton (1985–1992){{cite web |author=Harkavy, Ward |date=May 24, 2000 |title=Wal-Mart's First Lady |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0021,harkavy,15052,5.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050301202725/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0021%2Charkavy%2C15052%2C5.html |archive-date=March 1, 2005 |access-date=August 3, 2006 |work=The Village Voice}} and Tom Coughlin (2003–2004), the latter having served as vice chairman. Clinton left the board before the 1992 U.S. presidential election, and Coughlin left in December 2005 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Walmart.{{cite news |author=Boulden, Jennifer |date=January 31, 2006 |title=Wal-Mart Former Vice Chairman Coughlin Admits Fraud |magazine=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a574eQ1zemuk&refer=top_world_news |url-status=dead |access-date=August 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712173022/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a574eQ1zemuk&refer=top_world_news |archive-date=July 12, 2008}}

After Sam Walton's death in 1992, Don Soderquist, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice Chairman, became known as the "Keeper of the Culture".{{Cite book |author=Soderquist, Donald |url=https://archive.org/details/walmartwayinside00sode |title=The Wal-mart Way: The Inside Story of the Success of the World's Largest Company |date=April 19, 2005 |publisher=Thomas Nelson |isbn=978-0-7852-6119-3 |edition=2nd}}

Walmart Inc. is a Delaware-domiciled joint-stock company registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with its registered office located in Wolters Kluwer's Corporation Trust Center in Wilmington. {{As of|2017|March|df=US|post=,}}{{Cite web |url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/217476/999999999717001550/9999999997-17-001550-index.htm |title = No Action Letter 2017 |last = WALMART STORES |website = SEC Edgar |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170305115038/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/217476/999999999717001550/9999999997-17-001550-index.htm |archive-date = March 5, 2017}} it has 3,292,377,090 outstanding shares. These are held mainly by the Walton family, a number of institutions and funds.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/WMT/holders?p=WMT|title=WMT Major Holders {{!}} Insider Transactions {{!}} Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Stock – Yahoo Finance|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=March 4, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305115223/https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/WMT/holders?p=WMT|archive-date=March 5, 2017}}

• 43.00% (1,415,891,131): Walton Enterprises LLC
• 5.30% (174,563,205): Walton family Holdings Trust{{Cite web |url = http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/Proxy-Statement.pdf?p=75 |title = 2016 Notice of Annual Shareholders' Meeting and Proxy Statement |last = Walmart |date = June 3, 2016 |page = 75 |access-date = March 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131032/http://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2016/annual/Proxy-Statement.pdf?p=75 |archive-date = March 6, 2017}}
• 3.32% (102,036,399): The Vanguard Group, Inc
• 2.37% (72,714,226): State Street Corporation
• 1.37% (42,171,892): BlackRock Institutional Trust Company
• 0.94% (28,831,721): Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
• 0.77% (23,614,578): BlackRock Fund Advisors
• 0.71% (21,769,126): Dodge & Cox Inc
• 0.68% (20,978,727): Vanguard 500 Index Fund
• 0.65% (20,125,838): Bank of America Corporation
• 0.57% (17,571,058): Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
• 0.57% (17,556,128): Northern Trust Corporation
• 0.55% (16,818,165): Vanguard Institutional Index Fund-Institutional Index Fund
• 0.55% (16,800,850): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co
• 0.52% (15,989,827): SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

In North America, Walmart's primary competitors include grocery stores and department stores like Target, Kroger, Aldi, Meijer, Trader Joe's, Ingles, Publix, Harris Teeter and Winn Dixie in the United States; Hudson's Bay, Loblaw retail stores, Sobeys, Metro, and Giant Tiger in Canada; and Comercial Mexicana and Soriana in Mexico. Competitors of Walmart's Sam's Club division are Costco and the smaller BJ's Wholesale Club chain. Walmart's move into the grocery business in the late 1990s set it against major supermarket chains in both the United States and Canada. Studies have typically found that Walmart's prices are significantly lower than those of their competitors, and that Walmart's presence is associated with lower food prices for households. Comparisons of performance metrics such as sales per square foot suggest that supermarkets in direct competition with Walmart Supercenters show significant decreases in profit margins, an effect that is strongest in the case of unionized competitors. Between 2000 and 2010, Walmart's entry into new areas often lowered local food prices at other stores. However, recent studies have not found the same effect, suggesting that retailers may have changed their competitive strategies.

While the idea that Walmart destroys small businesses is widely assumed to be true, research so far suggests that Walmart superstores have little effect on smaller retailers such as "Mom and Pop" businesses. Differences in impact appear to be specific to the goods sold. Small retailers may experience difficulty if they rely on selling products identical to those at Walmart or if they try to sell at lower prices.

Dollar stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General have been able to find a small niche market and compete successfully against Walmart.{{cite news |author = Stilgoe, John |url = https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/11/23/wal_mart_giant_can_be_tamed |title = Wal-Mart Giant Can Be Tamed |work = The Boston Globe |date = November 23, 2003 |access-date = January 11, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070328010529/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/11/23/wal_mart_giant_can_be_tamed/ |archive-date = March 28, 2007}} In 2004, Walmart responded by testing its own dollar store concept, a subsection of some stores called "Pennies-n-Cents".{{cite web |author = Berner, Robert |url = http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_19/b3882086.htm |title = Out-Discounting the Discounter |work = Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date = May 10, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120629083316/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_19/b3882086.htm |archive-date = June 29, 2012 }}

Walmart also had to face fierce competition in some foreign markets. For example, in Germany it had captured just 2 percent of the German food market following its entry into the market in 1997 and remained "a secondary player" behind Aldi with 19 percent.{{cite web |author = Ewing, Jack |url = http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_15/b3928086_mz054.htm |title = Wal-Mart: Struggling in Germany |work = Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date = April 11, 2005 |access-date = July 27, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813111855/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_15/b3928086_mz054.htm |archive-date = August 13, 2006 }}

In May 2006, after entering the South Korean market in 1998, Walmart sold all 16 of its South Korean outlets to Shinsegae, a local retailer, for {{US$|882 million}}. Shinsegae re-branded the Walmarts as E-mart stores.{{cite news |author = Sang-Hun, Choe |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/23/business/worldbusiness/23shop.html |title = Wal-Mart Selling Stores and Leaving South Korea |work = The New York Times |date = May 23, 2006 |access-date = December 2, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090424182423/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/23/business/worldbusiness/23shop.html |archive-date = April 24, 2009}}

Walmart struggled to export its brand elsewhere as it rigidly tried to reproduce its model overseas. In China, Walmart hopes to succeed by adapting and doing things preferable to Chinese citizens. For example, it found that Chinese consumers preferred to select their own live fish and seafood; stores began displaying the meat uncovered and installed fish tanks, leading to higher sales.{{cite web |url = http://www.industryleadersmagazine.com/walmart-low-prices-big-numbers/ |title = Walmart: Low Prices, Big Numbers |publisher = IndustryLeaders |access-date = December 16, 2012 |author = Ann, Carrie |date = December 24, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113203758/http://www.industryleadersmagazine.com/walmart-low-prices-big-numbers/ |archive-date = November 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}

File:Walmart locations.png

In the United States, Walmart's early growth occurred in the Southeast and lower Midwest. More recently, Walmart has expanded throughout the country. The number of Walmart stores per 1,000 people in 2019 was highest in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama and Kansas, and lowest in Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York. California and New Jersey were two of the ten states with the largest increases in Supercenters between 2011 and 2020, along with Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Walmart customers display strong customer loyalty and cite low prices as the most important reason for shopping there. Walmart has characterized their shoppers as falling into three main groups: "value-price shoppers" (people who like low prices and cannot afford much more), "brand aspirationals" (people with low incomes who buy well-known brands in hopes of assuring quality), and "price-sensitive affluents" (wealthier shoppers who seek deals).{{cite news |author = Barbaro, Michael |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/business/02walmart.html |title = It's Not Only about Price at Wal-Mart |work = The New York Times |date = March 2, 2007 |access-date = April 3, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080307092045/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/business/02walmart.html |archive-date = March 7, 2008}} {{As of|2022}} the average U.S. Walmart customer earned about $80,000 per year,{{cite news |last1=Reuter |first1=Dominick |title=Meet the typical Walmart shopper, a 59-year-old white suburban woman earning $80,000 a year |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-walmart-shopper-demographic-white-woman-earning-middle-income-2021-7 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=Business Insider |date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013141403/https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-walmart-shopper-demographic-white-woman-earning-middle-income-2021-7 |url-status=live }} above the U.S. average personal income of $63,214.{{cite web |last1=Flynn |date=April 5, 2022 |first1=Jack |title=Average American Income [2022]: Statistics On Household + Personal Income In The US – Zippia |url=https://www.zippia.com/advice/average-american-income/ |website=Zippia.com. |access-date=October 13, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013141406/https://www.zippia.com/advice/average-american-income/ |url-status=live }} Walmart reports that during times of rising inflation, customers become more sensitive to rising food prices, buying less expensive food items such as hot dogs and canned tuna rather than deli cold cuts. They also see more upper-income shoppers looking for bargains.{{cite news |last1=Horsley |first1=Scott |title=Walmart says inflation is helping it to attract more upper-income shoppers |url=https://www.wunc.org/2022-08-17/walmart-says-inflation-is-helping-it-to-attract-more-upper-income-shoppers |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=WUNC/NPR |date=August 17, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013151421/https://www.wunc.org/2022-08-17/walmart-says-inflation-is-helping-it-to-attract-more-upper-income-shoppers |url-status=live }}

Walmart shoppers have been reported to be politically conservative. A poll after the 2004 U.S. presidential election reported that 76 percent of voters who shopped at Walmart once a week reported voting for George W. Bush while only 23 percent supported senator John Kerry.{{cite news |url = http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-11-23-4#.UM1ok-Oe9uo |title = Group protests at local Walmart |access-date = December 16, 2012 |author = Gardner, Sheldon |work = The St. Augustine Record |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121201145953/http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-11-23-4#.UM1ok-Oe9uo |archive-date = December 1, 2012}} When measured against similar retailers in the U.S. in 2006, frequent Walmart shoppers were rated the most politically conservative.{{cite news |author = Birchall, Jonathan |author2 = Yeager, Holly |title = A Purchase on Psephology |newspaper = Financial Times |date = August 17, 2006 |page = 9 |edition = US }} {{As of|2014}} 54 percent of Americans who preferred to shop at Walmart reported that they opposed same-sex marriage, while 40 percent were in favor, reflecting the store's southern roots.{{cite web |url = http://publicreligion.org/2014/08/targets-support-for-same-sex-marriage-mirrors-customers-views/ |title = Target's Support for Same-sex Marriage Mirrors Customers' Views |last = Cox |first = Daniel |date = August 7, 2014 |publisher = Public Religion Research Institute |access-date = August 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812090145/http://publicreligion.org/2014/08/targets-support-for-same-sex-marriage-mirrors-customers-views/ |archive-date = August 12, 2014}}

Due to its concentration of stores in the Bible Belt, Walmart is known for its "tradition of tailoring its service to churchgoing customers". Walmart has carried clean versions of hip-hop audio CDs and in cooperation with The Timothy Plan, placed "plastic sheathes over suggestive women's periodicals and banned 'lad mags' such as Maxim" magazine.{{cite magazine |url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/17.40.html |title = Deliver Us from Wal-Mart? |last = Sellers |first = Jeff M. |date = April 22, 2005 |magazine = Christianity Today |access-date = April 13, 2014 |quote = Indeed, based in the Bible Belt town of Bentonville, Arkansas, Wal-Mart has a tradition of tailoring its service to churchgoing customers. It sells only the sanitized versions of hip-hop cds bearing warnings of objectionable content. Responding to a campaign by the largest evangelical mutual fund group, The Timothy Plan, to keep Cosmopolitan magazine covers out of view of Wal-Mart customers, the company slapped plastic sheathes over suggestive women's periodicals and banned "lad mags" such as Maxim. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140107233259/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/17.40.html |archive-date = January 7, 2014}} Walmart also caters to its Christian customer base by selling Christian books and media,{{cite news |url = http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/24/7-religious-companies-besides-chick-fil-a/ |title = 9 religious companies (besides Chick-fil-A) |last = Gilgoff |first = Dan |date = July 24, 2012 |publisher = CNN |access-date = April 13, 2014 |quote = Walmart long carries the kind of Christian books that were once the exclusive province of Christian bookstores. |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140205051508/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/24/7-religious-companies-besides-chick-fil-a/ |archive-date = February 5, 2014}} such as VeggieTales videos and The Purpose-Driven Life, earning the company over {{US$|1 billion}} annually.{{cite magazine |url = https://www.forbes.com/2003/09/15/cz_cc_0915wmt.html |title = David Vs. Goliath |last = Coolidge |first = Carrie |date = September 15, 2012 |magazine = Forbes |access-date = April 13, 2014 |quote = Wal-Mart Stores has seen the light. The world's biggest retailer has discovered Christian-themed merchandise is one of the fastest-growing categories around. With offerings ranging from best-selling books and videos including The Purpose Driven Life and Veggie Tales, Wal-Mart's annual sales from Christian-themed merchandise, which is estimated to already exceed $1 billion annually, is growing at a rapid pace. On a company-wide basis, Wal-Mart now offers 550 different Christian music titles and more than 1,200 Christian book titles. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140729/http://www.forbes.com/2003/09/15/cz_cc_0915wmt.html |archive-date = April 13, 2014}}{{cite magazine |url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/17.40.html |title = Deliver Us from Wal-Mart? |last = Sellers |first = Jeff M. |date = April 22, 2005 |magazine = Christianity Today |access-date = April 13, 2014 |quote = In addition, according to Forbes magazine, Wal-Mart has become the largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise, with well over $1 billion in sales of such items as VeggieTales videos and The Purpose-Driven Life books. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140107233259/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/17.40.html |archive-date = January 7, 2014}}

In 2006, Walmart took steps to expand its U.S. customer base, announcing a modification in its U.S. stores from a "one-size-fits-all" merchandising strategy to one designed to "reflect each of six demographic groups—African-Americans, the affluent, empty-nesters, Hispanics, suburbanites, and rural residents".{{cite news |title = Report: Wal-Mart to adopt new custom-fit retail approach |url = https://www.foxnews.com/story/report-wal-mart-to-adopt-new-custom-fit-retail-approach |agency = Reuters |date = September 7, 2006 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307033321/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/09/07/report-wal-mart-to-adopt-new-custom-fit-retail-approach.html |archive-date = March 7, 2016}} Around six months later, it unveiled a new slogan: "Saving people money so they can live better lives".

Walmart has also made steps to appeal to more liberal customers, for example, by rejecting the American Family Association's recommendations and carrying the DVD Brokeback Mountain, a love story between two gay cowboys in Wyoming.{{cite web |url = https://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-04-04/ |title = Wal-Mart Hit by 'Brokeback' Protest |publisher = IMDb |access-date = December 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070321212405/http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-04-04 |archive-date = March 21, 2007 }}

Walmart stopped selling handguns in all U.S. states, except for Alaska, in 1993.Abha Bhattarai, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/03/status-quo-is-unacceptable-walmart-will-stop-selling-some-ammunition-exit-handgun-market/ 'The status quo is unacceptable': Walmart will stop selling some ammunition and exit the handgun market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119115916/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/03/status-quo-is-unacceptable-walmart-will-stop-selling-some-ammunition-exit-handgun-market/ |date=November 19, 2020 }}, The Washington Post (September 3, 2019).

In 2018, Walmart stopped selling guns and ammunition to persons younger than 21, following a similar move by Dick's Sporting Goods on the same day.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/757170753/walmart-curbs-ammunition-sales-calls-for-stronger-background-checks|title=Walmart Curbs Ammunition Sales, Calls For Stronger Background Checks|work=Morning Edition|publisher=NPR|date=September 4, 2019|access-date=September 4, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024073658/https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/757170753/walmart-curbs-ammunition-sales-calls-for-stronger-background-checks|url-status=live}} In the same year, Walmart stopped selling military-style rifles that were commonly used in mass shootings.

As of 2019, Walmart was a major retailer of firearms and ammunition.Michael Corkery, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/business/walmart-guns-ammunition-sales.html Walmart to Limit Ammunition Sales and Discourage 'Open Carry' of Guns in Stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125030030/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/business/walmart-guns-ammunition-sales.html |date=November 25, 2020 }}, The New York Times (September 3, 2019). In 2019, after 23 people{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/04/26/business/ap-mass-shooting-texas.html|title=El Paso Shooting Victim Dies Months Later, Death Toll Now 23|work=The New York Times|date=April 26, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427072535/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/04/26/business/ap-mass-shooting-texas.html|url-status=live}} were killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, Walmart announced that it would stop selling all handgun ammunition and certain short-barreled rifle ammunition. The company also announced that it would stop selling handguns in Alaska, the only state where the company still sold handguns. The move was expected to reduce Walmart's U.S. market share in ammunition from around 20% to around 6–9%. Walmart also stated that it was "respectfully requesting" that customers not openly carry weapons in Walmart stores, except for authorized law enforcement officers.

Following the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. in October 2020, Walmart temporarily removed gun and ammunition displays in thousands of stores across the U.S. from sales floors, grounding their reason in concerns of civil unrest. Company spokesman Kory Lundberg said in a statement that "We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers." Firearms and ammunition will still be available for purchase on request, but the duration of the removal of both from the sales floor remains undetermined.{{Cite news|date=October 30, 2020|title=Walmart pulls guns from display over 'civil unrest' concerns|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54738047|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115174139/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54738047|url-status=live}}

Many Walmart technology projects are coded in the open and available through the Walmart Labs GitHub repository{{cite web |first1 = Alex |last1 = Grigoryan |url = https://github.com/walmartlabs |website = Github |access-date = November 4, 2016 |title = Walmart Labs – Github |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104074304/https://github.com/walmartlabs |archive-date = January 4, 2017}} as open-source software under the OSI approved Apache V2.0 license. {{As of|2016|November|post=,}} 141 public GitHub projects are listed.

During a migration of the walmart.com retail platform to Facebook React and Node.js, the Electrode{{cite web |url = http://www.electrode.io/ |access-date = November 4, 2016 |title = Introducing Electrode, an open-source release from @WalmartLabs |quote = Electrode is a platform for building universal React/Node.js applications with standardized structure, best practices, and modern technologies baked in. Electrode focuses on performance, component reusability, and simple deployment to multiple cloud providers—so you can focus on what makes your app unique. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204315/http://www.electrode.io/ |archive-date = November 4, 2016}} project was created to power the e-commerce platform which serves 80 million visitors per month and 15 million items.

Alex Grigoryan{{cite web |last1 = Grigoryan |first1 = Alex |url = https://medium.com/@lexgrigoryan |access-date = November 4, 2016 |title = Alex Grigoryan – Medium |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161104205902/https://medium.com/@lexgrigoryan |archive-date = November 4, 2016}} of Walmart Labs released a statement{{cite web |url = https://medium.com/walmartlabs/introducing-electrode-an-open-source-release-from-walmartlabs-14b836135319#.uvbvyrc0s |website = Medium |access-date = November 4, 2016 |title = Introducing Electrode, an open source release from @WalmartLabs |date = October 3, 2016 |quote = In less than one year, Walmart.com has completed its migration to React/Node.js and we are proud of that accomplishment! The goal was to build a new application platform to help @WalmartLabs and its engineers scale for the future. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161104205900/https://medium.com/walmartlabs/introducing-electrode-an-open-source-release-from-walmartlabs-14b836135319#.uvbvyrc0s |archive-date = November 4, 2016}} on Medium.com on October 3, 2016, explaining the details of the applications and the scale that they operate at Walmart.

As the largest retailer in the U.S., Walmart collects and analyzes a large amount of consumer data. The big data sets are mined for use in predictive analytics, which allow the company to optimize operations by predicting customer's habits. Walmart's datacenter is unofficially referred to as Area 71.{{cite web |url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/wal-mart-s-data-center-remains-mystery/article_5f088740-04ea-531d-b526-a2cc9862c8aa.html |title=Wal-Mart's data center remains mystery |last=McCoy |first=Max |date=May 28, 2006 |website=The Joplin Globe |publisher=Community Newspaper Holdings |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217045422/https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/wal-mart-s-data-center-remains-mystery/article_5f088740-04ea-531d-b526-a2cc9862c8aa.html |url-status=live }}

In April 2011, Walmart acquired Kosmix to develop software for analyzing real-time data streams.Chris V. Nicholson, The New York Times. "[https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/wal-mart-buys-social-media-site-kosmix/ Wal-Mart Buys Social Media Firm Kosmix] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525042852/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/wal-mart-buys-social-media-site-kosmix/ |date=May 25, 2017 }}." April 19, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2016. In August 2012, Walmart announced its Polaris search engine.Sarah Perez, TechCrunch. "[https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/30/in-battle-with-amazon-walmart-unveils-polaris-a-semantic-search-engine-for-products/ In Battle With Amazon, Walmart Unveils Polaris, A Semantic Search Engine For Products] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308134741/https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/30/in-battle-with-amazon-walmart-unveils-polaris-a-semantic-search-engine-for-products/ |date=March 8, 2017 }}." August 30, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2017.

The amount of data gathered by Walmart has raised privacy concerns.{{cite news |last = Hays |first = Constance L. |title = What Wal-Mart Knows About Customers' Habits |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/business/yourmoney/14wal.html |access-date = November 27, 2013 |newspaper = The New York Times |date = November 14, 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220044349/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/business/yourmoney/14wal.html |archive-date = December 20, 2013}}{{cite web |title = A CASE STUDY OF WALMART |url = http://centerformediajustice.org/wp-content/files/WALMART_PRIVACY_MR.pdf |publisher = Center for Media Justice |access-date = November 27, 2013 |date = November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005506/http://centerformediajustice.org/wp-content/files/WALMART_PRIVACY_MR.pdf |archive-date = December 3, 2013 }}{{cite news |last = Berman |first = Jillian |title = Walmart Now Possesses Info On An Estimated 145 Million Americans: Analysis |url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/walmart-data_n_4344879.html |work = HuffPost |access-date = November 27, 2013 |date = November 26, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127161035/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/walmart-data_n_4344879.html |archive-date = November 27, 2013}}

in 2016, Walmart began a drive to automate much of the cash handling process. Walmart began replacing employees who count currency by hand with machines that count 8 bills per second and 3,000 coins a minute. The processing machines, located in the back of stores, allow cashiers to process the money for electronic depositing.{{Cite news|last=Nassauer|first=Sarah|date=July 19, 2017|title=Robots Are Replacing Workers Where You Shop|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/robots-are-replacing-workers-where-you-shop-1500456602|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123142221/https://www.wsj.com/articles/robots-are-replacing-workers-where-you-shop-1500456602|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Nassauer|first=Sarah|date=July 1, 2018|title=Target, Walmart Automate More Store Tasks|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/target-walmart-automate-more-store-tasks-1530453600|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=December 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226232619/https://www.wsj.com/articles/target-walmart-automate-more-store-tasks-1530453600|url-status=live}}

Sam Walton believed that the company's contribution to society was that it operated efficiently, thereby lowering the cost of living for customers, and, therefore, in that sense was a "powerful force for good", despite his refusal to contribute cash to philanthropic causes.{{cite book |last = Lichtenstein |first = Nelson |title = The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ot0-dSuyF8wC&q=%E2%80%9CWe+feel+very+strongly%2C%E2%80%9D+he+wrote%2C+%E2%80%9Cthat+Wal-Mart+really%C2%A0is+not%2C+and%C2%A0should+not%C2%A0be%2C+in+the+charity+business.%E2%80%9D&pg=PA279 |publisher = Macmillan |access-date = August 1, 2013 |page = 279 |date = July 21, 2009 |isbn = 978-1-4299-8971-8 |archive-date = December 26, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201226195928/https://books.google.com/books?id=ot0-dSuyF8wC&q=%E2%80%9CWe+feel+very+strongly%2C%E2%80%9D+he+wrote%2C+%E2%80%9Cthat+Wal-Mart+really%C2%A0is+not%2C+and%C2%A0should+not%C2%A0be%2C+in+the+charity+business.%E2%80%9D&pg=PA279 |url-status = live }} Having begun to feel that his wealth attracted people who wanted nothing more than a "handout", he explained that while he believed his family had been fortunate and wished to use his wealth to aid worthy causes like education, they could not be expected to "solve every personal problem that comes to [their] attention". He explained later in his autobiography, "We feel very strongly that Wal-Mart really is not, and should not be, in the charity business," stating "any debit has to be passed along to somebody—either shareholders or our customers."{{cite book |last = Walton |first = Sam |title = Sam Walton: Made In America |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ggN9Kp8UVfwC&q=%E2%80%9Cany+undeserving+stranger+a+free+ride%E2%80%9D&pg=PA299 |publisher = Random House LLC |access-date = July 30, 2013 |pages = 299–306 |date = September 12, 2012 |isbn = 978-0-307-76369-3 |archive-date = December 26, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201226230952/https://books.google.com/books?id=ggN9Kp8UVfwC&q=%E2%80%9Cany+undeserving+stranger+a+free+ride%E2%80%9D&pg=PA299 |url-status = live }} Since Sam Walton's death in 1992, however, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation dramatically increased charitable giving. For example, in 2005, Walmart donated {{US$|20 million}} in cash and merchandise for Hurricane Katrina relief and in 2020 they committed $25 million to organizations on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.{{Cite web|title=Where It's Going: Walmart's $25 Million COVID-19 Commitment|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/05/05/where-its-going-walmarts-25-million-covid-19-commitment|access-date=November 12, 2020|website=Corporate – US|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223064137/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/05/05/where-its-going-walmarts-25-million-covid-19-commitment|url-status=live}} Today, Walmart's charitable donations approach {{US$|1 billion}} each year.{{cite magazine |last = Featherstone |first = Liza |title = Wal-Mart Charity Evaluated: Critics question company's motives |url = http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart-charity/ |magazine = The Nation |access-date = August 1, 2013 |date = November 21, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202240/http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart-charity/ |archive-date = October 29, 2013}}

As of January 2021, healthcare workers could get vaccines through Walmart in New Mexico and Arkansas. Walmart planned to offer vaccines in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Chicago and Puerto Rico with the target of delivering between 10 million and 13 million doses per month at full capacity.{{Cite web|date=January 22, 2021|title=Walmart expands vaccinations in a boost to the U.S. Covid prevention program|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/walmart-expands-vaccinations-in-a-boost-to-the-us-covid-prevention-program.html|access-date=January 25, 2021|publisher=CNBC|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123215115/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/walmart-expands-vaccinations-in-a-boost-to-the-us-covid-prevention-program.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Jordan|date=January 22, 2021|title=Walmart expands coronavirus vaccine operation|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535363-walmart-expands-coronavirus-vaccine-operation-report|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=The Hill|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126052332/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535363-walmart-expands-coronavirus-vaccine-operation-report|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=When Vaccines Roll Out in the U.S., Walmart Stands Ready to Serve|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/01/22/when-vaccines-roll-out-in-the-u-s-walmart-stands-ready-to-serve|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=Corporate – US|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124144049/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/01/22/when-vaccines-roll-out-in-the-u-s-walmart-stands-ready-to-serve|url-status=live}}

In May 2021, Walmart said that starting from May 18 all its fully vaccinated employees could stop wearing masks at work following the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.{{Cite web|date=May 14, 2021|title=Walmart says fully vaccinated employees can go without masks starting Tuesday|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/walmart-says-fully-vaccinated-employees-can-go-without-masks-starting-tuesday-2021-05-14/|access-date=May 15, 2021|work=Reuters|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514235045/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/walmart-says-fully-vaccinated-employees-can-go-without-masks-starting-tuesday-2021-05-14/|url-status=live}}

A 2005 story in The Washington Post reported that "Wal-Mart's discounting on food alone boosts the welfare of American shoppers by at least {{US$|50 billion}} per year."{{cite news |author = Mallaby, Sebastian |date = November 28, 2005 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/27/AR2005112700687.html |title = Progressive Wal-Mart. Really |newspaper = The Washington Post |access-date = August 4, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516202924/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/27/AR2005112700687.html |archive-date = May 16, 2008}} A study in 2005 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) measured the effect on consumer welfare and found that the poorest segment of the population benefits the most from the existence of discount retailers.{{cite web |author = Hausman, Jerry |first2 = Ephraim |last2 = Leibtag |date = October 2005 |url = http://economics.mit.edu/files/1765 |title = Consumer Benefits from Increased Competition in Shopping Outlets: Measuring the Effect of Wal-Mart |publisher = MIT/United States Department of Agriculture |access-date = August 4, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120816233917/http://economics.mit.edu/files/1765 |archive-date = August 16, 2012}}

In 2006, American newspaper columnist George Will stated that In terms of economic effects, "Wal-Mart and its effects save shoppers more than {{US$|200 billion}} a year, dwarfing such government programs as food stamps ({{US$|28.6 billion}}) and the earned income tax credit ({{US$|34.6 billion}})".{{cite news |last = Will |first = George |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091301573.html |title = Democrats Vs. Wal-Mart |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = September 14, 2006 |author-link = George Will |archive-date = July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130728114309/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091301573.html }}

Kenneth Stone, Professor of Economics at Iowa State University, in a paper published in Farm Foundation (1997), found that some small towns can lose almost half of their retail trade within ten years of a Walmart store opening. Presumably, people who previously shopped in towns without Wal-Mart stores choose to shop in towns with Wal-Mart stores, part of an older pattern in which smaller centers lose retail sales to larger ones. Stone compared the changes to previous competitors that small town shops have faced in the past, such as the development of the railroads, the Sears Roebuck catalog, and shopping malls. He concluded that small towns are more affected by "discount mass merchandiser stores" than larger towns and that shop owners who adapt to the ever-changing retail market can "co-exist and even thrive in this type of environment". In later research Artz and Stone (2006) reported that in Mississippi the impact of opening a Walmart was much larger on existing retailers in rural communities (17%) than more urban ones (4%).{{cite journal |last1=Artz |first1=Georgeanne M. |last2=Stone |first2=Kenneth E. |title=Analyzing the Impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on Local Food Store Sales |journal=American Journal of Agricultural Economics |date=2006 |volume=88 |issue=5 |pages=1296–1303 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8276.2006.00948.x |jstor=4123607 |issn=0002-9092 |doi-access=free }} This also suggests that Walmart has achieved its strongest growth in non-metropolitan areas, which tend to be low-income.

Studies of the impact of Walmart tend to focus on Supercenters rather than Neighborhood Markets. Comparisons of performance metrics such as sales per square foot suggest that supermarkets and other high-volume retailers in direct competition with Walmart Supercenters show significant decreases in profit margins. While Walmart has often been said to be a destroyer of small businesses, much of this is anecdotal. Research so far suggests that Walmart superstores have little effect on smaller retailers such as "Mom and Pop" businesses. A 2008 economic analysis published in the journal Economic Inquiry suggested that "the process of creative destruction unleashed by Wal‐Mart has had no statistically significant long‐run impact on the overall size and profitability of the small business sector in the United States".{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2007.00091.x|title = Has Wal-Mart Buried Mom and Pop?: The Impact of Wal-Mart on Self-Employment and Small Establishments in the United States|year = 2008|last1 = Sobel|first1 = Russell S.|last2 = Dean|first2 = Andrea M.|journal = Economic Inquiry|volume = 46|issue = 4|pages = 676–695|s2cid = 28554345|doi-access = free| issn = 0095-2583}}

Impact appears to be related to a number of factors, with a key factor being the goods offered for sale. A study by Ailawadi and others (2010) examined the impact of new Walmarts in detail. She reported that median sales dropped 40 percent at similar high-volume stores, 17 percent at supermarkets and 6 percent at drugstores. However, 30 percent of specific product categories at high-volume stores were unaffected. Many retailers reduced prices and cut product selection in an attempt to compete directly with Walmart, in effect attacking its areas of strength. A more successful approach was to track sales, identify vulnerable categories, and increase the range of products in those categories. By including products at both top and bottom price points, and offering temporary promotions on those items, retailers could attract both customers who were price-conscious and those interested in a wider range of options. A small store that specialized in a particular product area could compete effectively against Walmart.{{cite news |title=Think Outside of the Box (Store): Defending Against Walmart |url=https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/news/articles/think-outside-of-the-box-store-defending-against-walmart |access-date=October 14, 2022 |work=Tuck Forum |publisher=Dartmouth University |date=November 2009 |language=en |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014211351/https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/news/articles/think-outside-of-the-box-store-defending-against-walmart |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |last1=Ailawadi |first1=Kusum L. |last2=Zhang |first2=Jie |last3=Krishna |first3=Aradhna |last4=Kruger |first4=Michael W. |title=When Wal-Mart Enters: How Incumbent Retailers React and how this Affects their Sales Outcomes |journal=Journal of Marketing Research |date=August 2010 |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=577–593 |doi=10.1509/jmkr.47.4.577 |s2cid=21105799 |url=https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/sage/when-wal-mart-enters-how-incumbent-retailers-react-and-how-this-258YW2pwLT?key=sage |access-date=October 14, 2022 |language=en |issn=0022-2437 |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014211350/https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/sage/when-wal-mart-enters-how-incumbent-retailers-react-and-how-this-258YW2pwLT?key=sage |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }} Small specialized stores are less effective against big-box category killer chains such as Home Depot and Best Buy electronics.{{cite journal |last1=Crowley |first1=Martha |last2=Stainback |first2=Kevin |title=Retail Sector Concentration, Local Economic Structure, and Community Well-Being |journal=Annual Review of Sociology |date=July 30, 2019 |volume=45 |issue=1 |pages=321–343 |doi=10.1146/annurev-soc-073018-022449 |s2cid=181369011 |language=en |issn=0360-0572 |doi-access=free }}

Some studies have suggested that the impact a Walmart store has on a local business is correlated to its distance from the store. David Merriman, Joseph Persky, Julie Davis and Ron Baiman (2012) outlined the impacts of Walmart in Chicago. Based on three annual surveys of enterprises within a four-mile radius of a new Chicago Walmart it "shows that the probability of going out of business was significantly higher for establishments close to that store". The overall findings of this study reinforce the "contention that large-city Walmarts, like those in small towns, absorb retail sales from nearby stores without significantly expanding the market".{{cite journal |last1=Merriman |first1=David |last2=Persky |first2=Joseph |last3=Davis |first3=Julie |last4=Baiman |first4=Ron |title=The Impact of an Urban WalMart Store on Area Businesses: The Chicago Case |journal=Economic Development Quarterly |date=November 2012 |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=321–333 |doi=10.1177/0891242412457985 |s2cid=155306293 |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242412457985 |access-date=October 14, 2022 |language=en |issn=0891-2424 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109191618/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0891242412457985 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }} Ellickson & Grieco (2013) report in the Journal of Urban Economics that Wal-Marts most strongly affect outlets of larger chains that are within {{convert|2|mi|km}} of their location.{{cite journal |last1=Ellickson |first1=Paul B. |last2=Grieco |first2=Paul L.E. |title=Wal-Mart and the geography of grocery retailing |journal=Journal of Urban Economics |date=May 2013 |volume=75 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1016/j.jue.2012.09.005 }}

A 2022 literature review concludes that "there is no consensus on the impact of Walmart on local employment, but most studies on the topic point to a modest increase in retail employment". For example, studies at the University of Missouri found that a new store increases net retail employment in the county by 100 jobs in the short term, half of which disappear over five years as other retail establishments close.{{cite web |author = Basker, Emek |year = 2002 |url = http://econwpa.wustl.edu/eps/lab/papers/0303/0303002.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050430063233/http://econwpa.wustl.edu/eps/lab/papers/0303/0303002.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date = April 30, 2005 |title = Job Creation or Destruction? Labor-Market Effects of Wal-Mart Expansion |publisher = University of Missouri |access-date = August 4, 2006 }}{{cite journal |last1=Basker |first1=Emek |title=Job Creation or Destruction? Labor Market Effects of Wal-Mart Expansion |journal=Review of Economics and Statistics |date=2005 |volume=87 |issue=1 |pages=174–183 |doi=10.1162/0034653053327568|s2cid=207590258 }} Similarly, a net increase in employment (55 jobs) was found in a study of West Virginia counties between 1989 and 1998.{{cite journal |last1=Hicks |first1=Michael J. |last2=Wilburn |first2=Kristy L. |title=The Regional Impact of Wal-Mart Entrance: A Panel Study of the Retail Trade Sector in West Virginia |journal=The Review of Regional Studies |date=December 28, 2001 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=305–313 |doi=10.52324/001c.8540 |issn=1553-0892|doi-access=free }}

Like other chain stores, Walmart tends to hire local employees for low-skilled jobs with low wages and minimal benefits. This may increase employees' reliance on public assistance programs, effectively transferring costs away from employers onto taxpayers. Studies examining aggregate retail wage data from states and counties, before and after the arrival of Walmart, are mixed. Some results, particularly from nonmetropolitan areas in the South and central United States, suggest lowered wages. Other studies have found no effect (e.g. Pennsylvania) or an increase in wages (e.g. Maryland). A 2004 paper by Goetz and Swaminathan suggested that U.S. counties with Walmart stores suffered increased poverty compared with counties without Wal-Marts.{{cite web |author = Goetz, Stephan J. |first2 = Hema |last2 = Swaminathan |date = October 18, 2004 |url = http://aers.psu.edu/research/centers/cecd/research/wal-mart-and-county-wide-poverty/full-study/at_download/file |title = Wal-Mart and County-Wide Poverty |publisher = Pennsylvania State University |access-date = August 4, 2006 |archive-date = May 25, 2017 |archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525041946/http://aers.psu.edu/research/centers/cecd/research/wal-mart-and-county-wide-poverty/full-study/at_download/file |url-status = live }} It is difficult to distinguish the effects of opening a Walmart from other factors, some of which may be related to the decision to open a store. Known as endogeneity bias, this makes it difficult to determine whether Walmart chooses to establish itself in communities with greater poverty and joblessness, or creates more poverty and joblessness.

Studies of socioeconomic well-being, civic participation, and community welfare suggest that large non-locally owned businesses tend to be centralized and vertically integrated, rely on remote sources and support services, and move money, expertise and power away from local communities. Large externally-oriented businesses tend to be associated with lower local standards of living, greater inequality, and less social and civic participation. This research is not specific to Walmart, but to large businesses in general.

In broader economic terms, the Economic Policy Institute estimated that between 2001 and 2006 Wal-Mart's trade deficit with China alone represented a loss of nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs. During this period, Wal-Mart was responsible for 9.3% of total U.S. imports from China, increasing the U.S. trade deficit by an estimated $17.1 billion. This represents about 200,000 jobs, most of them in the manufacturing sector (133,000).{{cite web |author = Clark, Robert E. |date = June 26, 2007 |url = http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib235 |title = The Wal-Mart effect: Its Chinese imports have displaced nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs (Issue Brief #235) |website = Economic Policy Institute |access-date = August 2, 2008 |archive-date = August 1, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080801013923/http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib235 |url-status = live }}

A 2014 story in The Guardian reported that the Wal-Mart Foundation was boosting its efforts to work with U.S. manufacturers. In February 2014, the Walmart Foundation pledged to support domestic manufacturers by buying {{US$|250 billion}} worth of American-made products in the next decade.{{cite news |author = D G McCullough |url = https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/made-in-the-usa-sustainable-manufacture |title = Is 'made in the USA' really the most sustainable way to manufacture? |work = The Guardian |access-date = April 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150626214945/http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/made-in-the-usa-sustainable-manufacture |archive-date = June 26, 2015}} Between 2014 and 2017, the Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund gave $10 million in grants to research and academic institutions for projects that improve domestic manufacturing.{{cite news |last1=Lyons Hardcastle |first1=Jessica |title=Walmart Pledges $250B To Revamp the US Manufacturing Industry |url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2017/01/why-walmarts-250-billion-pledge-will-make-us-manufacturing-more-sustainable/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=Environment + Energy Leader |date=January 24, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018152723/https://www.environmentalleader.com/2017/01/why-walmarts-250-billion-pledge-will-make-us-manufacturing-more-sustainable/ |url-status=live }} For the 2020 fiscal year, Walmart reported that nearly two-thirds of its merchandise was made, assembled or grown in the United States. As of March 2021, Walmart pledged to buy an additional $350 billion worth of American-based items over the next decade.{{cite news |last1=Repko |first1=Melissa |title=Walmart says it will support U.S. manufacturers with $350 billion of added business |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/03/walmart-to-back-us-manufacturers-with-350-billion-of-added-business.html |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=CNBC |date=March 3, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018152722/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/03/walmart-to-back-us-manufacturers-with-350-billion-of-added-business.html |url-status=live }}

A 2001 McKinsey Global Institute study of U.S. labor productivity growth between 1995 and 2000 concluded that "Wal-Mart directly and indirectly caused the bulk of the productivity acceleration" in general merchandise, representing 16 percent of total productivity growth in the retail sector.{{cite web |title = US productivity growth, 1995–2000 |url = http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/mgi/research/productivity_competitiveness_and_growth/us_productivity_growth_1995-2000 |publisher = McKinsey Global Institute |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025420/http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/mgi/research/productivity_competitiveness_and_growth/us_productivity_growth_1995-2000 |archive-date = January 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |date = October 2001 }}

Walmart's transformative use of information technology, particularly in supply-chain management, is identified as a major reason for its impact on productivity per man hour.{{cite news |last1=Schrage |first1=Michael |title=Wal-Mart Trumps Moore's Law |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2002/03/01/235222/wal-mart-trumps-moores-law/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=MIT Technology Review |date=March 1, 2002 |language=en |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018144452/https://www.technologyreview.com/2002/03/01/235222/wal-mart-trumps-moores-law/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Surowiecki |first1=James |title=The New Economy Was a Myth, Right? |url=https://www.wired.com/2002/07/myth-2/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |magazine=Wired |date=July 1, 2002 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018144452/https://www.wired.com/2002/07/myth-2/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ghemawat |first1=Pankaj |last2=Mark |first2=Ken A. |title=Opinion {{!}} The Price Is Right |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/opinion/the-price-is-right.html |access-date=October 18, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=August 3, 2005 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018144455/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/opinion/the-price-is-right.html |url-status=live }} For every dollar spent by Walmart to improve its own technology, an estimated ten dollars has been invested by suppliers throughout its supply chain on their own systems and software. Economist Robert Solow has emphasized the importance of imitation and adaptation: in addition to improving its own efficiency, Walmart's innovations have been adopted by its competitors so that they can compete.

Walmart's transportation network is a large contributor to its carbon footprint, with transportation fuel emissions increasing by 10% in 2023 to approximately 15.06 million metric tons of CO2.{{Cite web |last=Myer |first=Gregory |date=2024-12-19 |title="Walmart pushes back climate change targets" |url= |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Financial Times}}

Another source of environmental concern is refrigerators, which are very important for Walmart’s transportation of goods. Walmart’s use of refrigerators relies on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. In 2023, refrigerant-related emissions increased by 5.3% due to leaks in equipment across the United States and Mexico.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-13 |title=“Cool It” Campaign: Groups Take Aim At Walmart's Massive Refrigerant Leakage Problem |url=https://eia.org/press-releases/20190813-cool-it-campaign-groups-take-aim-at-walmarts-massive-refrigerant-leakage-problem/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=EIA |language=en}} Additionally, Walmart’s shipping operations in 2021 produced more greenhouse gases than a coal-fired power station, coming in at 1.7 million metric tons of CO2, underscoring the environmental cost of its logistics.{{Cite web |last=Winters |first=Joseph |date=2023-03-01 |title=These companies lead the pack of retailers emitting millions of pounds of CO2 through shipping |url=https://grist.org/accountability/walmart-target-home-depot-lead-pack-of-retailers-emitting-millions-of-pounds-of-co2-through-shipping/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Grist |language=en-us}} Walmart's practices have faced criticism for contributing to deforestation, specifically in regions that produce palm oil, soy, and beef.{{Cite news |last=Wasley |first=Andrew |last2=Heal |first2=Alexandra |date=2021-02-13 |title=Walmart selling beef from firm linked to Amazon deforestation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/13/walmart-selling-beef-from-firm-linked-to-amazon-deforestation |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Walmart works with suppliers linked to illegal deforestation in critical ecosystems like the Amazon. The company’s focus on low-cost, low-quality goods with short lifespans also adds to landfill waste, further harming the environment.

Climate change presents significant risks to Walmart’s operations. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires can lead to store closures, inventory losses, and disruptions to the supply chain. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey forced Walmart to close over 134 stores in the United States, causing supply chain disruptions and delayed deliveries due to flooding and road closures.{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Gregory |date=2024-12-19 |title="Walmart pushes back climate change targets" |url= |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Financial Times}} In response, Walmart activated emergency systems and implemented advanced forecasting and rerouting to restock essential items in nearby stores. This experience showed Walmart just how important it is to create climate adaptation strategies. Since this event, the company has integrated such strategies into the business model. As climate-related disruptions are expected to increase, Walmart started something called Project Gigaton, which aims to reduce greenhouse gases and focus on energy use, nature, waste, packaging, transportation, and product design, hoping to alleviate some of the pressure of environmental risk on the company.{{Cite web |title=Project Gigaton |url=https://www.walmartsustainabilityhub.com/project-gigaton |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Project Gigaton}} The ongoing risks posed by climate change continue to challenge Walmart’s ability to maintain consistent operations, showing the importance of continued adaptation to these environmental pressures.

File:Wal-Mart Workers and Wal-Mart-Free NYC at Occupy Wall Street.vorb.oga]]

With over 2.3 million employees worldwide, Walmart has faced a torrent of lawsuits and issues with regards to its workforce. These issues involve low wages, poor working conditions, inadequate health care, and issues involving the company's strong anti-union policies. In November 2013, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it had found that in 13 U.S. states, Wal-Mart had pressured employees not to engage in strikes on Black Friday, and had illegally disciplined workers who had engaged in strikes.{{cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-nlrb-walmart-20131119,0,1499317.story |title = Fully staffed NLRB investigates complaints against Wal-Mart |first = Alana |last = Semuels |work = Los Angeles Times |access-date = November 26, 2013 |date = November 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131126221724/http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-nlrb-walmart-20131119,0,1499317.story#axzz2lfbzVSap |archive-date = November 26, 2013}} Critics point to Walmart's high turnover rate as evidence of an unhappy workforce, although other factors may be involved. Approximately 70 percent of its employees leave within the first year.{{cite web |url = https://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070219083544/http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html |archive-date = February 19, 2007 |title = Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town |publisher = PBS |access-date = February 28, 2016 }} Despite this turnover rate, the company is still able to affect unemployment rates. This was found in a study by Oklahoma State University which states, "Walmart is found to have substantially lowered the relative unemployment rates of blacks in those counties where it is present, but to have had only a limited impact on relative incomes after the influences of other socio-economic variables were taken into account."Keil, Stanley R., Spector, Lee C. The Impact of Walmart on Income and Unemployment Differentials in Alabama. Review of Regional Studies; Winter 2005, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p336-355, 20p.

Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, with 1.6 million employees {{as of|2020|lc=yes}}. Walmart employs almost five times as many people as IBM, the second-largest employer.[http://www.statisticbrain.com/u-s-largest-employers/ U.S. Largest Employers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210023938/http://www.statisticbrain.com/u-s-largest-employers |date=February 10, 2016 }}. Retrieved August 5, 2013. Walmart employs more African Americans than any other private employer in the United States.{{cite news |author1 = Hiroko Tabuchi |author1-link = Hiroko Tabuchi |author2 = Michael Barbaro |title = Walmart Emerges as Unlikely Social Force |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/business/walmart-emerges-as-unlikely-social-force.html |access-date = April 2, 2015 |work = The New York Times |date = April 1, 2015 |quote = the nation's largest private sector employer of African-American workers. |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402155327/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/business/walmart-emerges-as-unlikely-social-force.html |archive-date = April 2, 2015}}

While 4.6% of all retail workers, and 16.5% of all U.S. grocery workers, were unionized as of 2020, Walmart does not employ unionized labor and actively discourages unionization and collective bargaining.{{cite journal |last1=Gereffi |first1=Gary |last2=Christian |first2=Michelle |title=The Impacts of Wal-Mart: The Rise and Consequences of the World's Dominant Retailer |journal=Annual Review of Sociology |date=August 1, 2009 |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=573–591 |doi=10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-115947 |url=https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-115947 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |language=en |issn=0360-0572 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109191710/https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-115947 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |last1 = Ingram |first1 = Paul |last2 = Yue |first2 = Lori Qingyuan |last3 = Rao |first3 = Hayagreeva |date = July 2010 |title = Trouble in Store: Probes, Protests, and Store Openings by Wal-Mart, 1998–2007 |jstor = 653596 |journal = American Journal of Sociology |publisher = University of Chicago Press |volume = 116 |issue = 1 |pages = 53–92 |doi = 10.1086/653596 |s2cid = 145171645 }}

Walmart rebranded their Associate Education Benefits to Live Better U in March 2019. Live Better U supports associate education at every level and includes $1 a day college program, cost-free high school education, and discounts on higher education programs through partnership with Guild Education.

In April 2019, Walmart Inc. announced plans to extend the use of robots in stores in order to improve and monitor inventory, clean floors and unload trucks, part of the company's effort to lower its labor costs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-is-rolling-out-the-robots-11554782460|title=Walmart Is Rolling Out the Robots|last1=Nassauer|first1=Sarah|date=April 9, 2019|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 23, 2019|last2=Cutter|first2=Chip|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124055456/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-is-rolling-out-the-robots-11554782460|url-status=live}} The use of robots has alienated some workers.{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |title=As Walmart turns to robots, it's the human workers who feel like machines |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/06/walmart-turns-robots-its-human-workers-who-feel-like-machines/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=6 June 2019}}

In June 2019, Walmart Inc. announced the expansion of education benefits to recruit high school students. The incentives include flexible work schedules, free SAT and ACT preparation courses, up to seven hours of free college credit, and a debt-free college degree in three fields from six nonprofit universities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/03/walmart-is-going-after-high-school-students-in-war-for-talent.html|title=Walmart is going after high school students in war for talent|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=June 4, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-date=December 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226215434/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/03/walmart-is-going-after-high-school-students-in-war-for-talent.html|url-status=live}}

In 2007, a gender discrimination lawsuit, Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., was filed against Walmart, alleging that female employees were discriminated against in matters regarding pay and promotions. A class action suit was sought, which would have been the nation's largest in history, covering 1.5 million past and current employees.{{cite news |title = Court approves class-action suit against Wal-Mart |last1 = Greenhouse |first1 = Steven |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/business/07bias.html |newspaper = The New York Times |date = February 7, 2007 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150605041701/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/business/07bias.html |archive-date = June 5, 2015}} On June 20, 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wal-Mart's favor, stating that the plaintiffs did not have enough in common to constitute a class.{{cite news |title = Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Petitioner v. Betty Dukes et al. |url = https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/10-277.pdf |access-date = June 21, 2011 |newspaper = United States Supreme Court |date = June 20, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110621230523/http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/10-277.pdf |archive-date = June 21, 2011}} The court ruled unanimously that because of the variability of the plaintiffs' circumstances, the class action could not proceed as presented, and furthermore, in a 5–4 decision that it could not proceed as any kind of class action suit.{{cite news |last = Lennard |first = Natasha |title = The Supreme Court sides with Wal-Mart |url = http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/06/20/supreme_court_sides_with_wal_mart/ |access-date = June 21, 2011 |newspaper = Salon |date = June 20, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110621171105/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/06/20/supreme_court_sides_with_wal_mart |archive-date = June 21, 2011}} Several plaintiffs, including the lead plaintiff, Betty Dukes, expressed their intent to file individual discrimination lawsuits separately.{{cite news |last = Clifford |first = Stephanie |title = Despite Setback, Plaintiffs to Pursue Wal-Mart Cases |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/business/21walmart.html |access-date = June 21, 2011 |newspaper = The New York Times |date = June 20, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110624070249/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/business/21walmart.html |archive-date = June 24, 2011}} Dukes died in 2017.{{cite web |last1=Corkery |first1=Michael |title=Betty Dukes, Greeter Whose Walmart Lawsuit Went to Supreme Court, Dies at 67 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/business/betty-dukes-dead-walmart-worker-led-landmark-class-action-sex-bias-case.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=November 17, 2022 |date=July 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117170434/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/business/betty-dukes-dead-walmart-worker-led-landmark-class-action-sex-bias-case.html |url-status=live }} In 2020, Walmart agreed to pay $20 million, stop using a pre-employment test, and furnish other relief to settle a companywide, sex-based hiring discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).{{cite web |title=Walmart, Inc. to Pay $20 Million to Settle EEOC Nationwide Hiring Discrimination Case |url=https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/walmart-inc-pay-20-million-settle-eeoc-nationwide-hiring-discrimination-case |website=U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |access-date=November 17, 2022 |date=September 10, 2020 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117170436/https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/walmart-inc-pay-20-million-settle-eeoc-nationwide-hiring-discrimination-case |url-status=live }}

According to a consultant hired by plaintiffs in a sex discrimination lawsuit, in 2001, Wal-Mart's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filings showed that female employees made up 65 percent of Wal-Mart's hourly paid workforce, but only 33 percent of its management.{{cite news |title = Is Wal-Mart hostile to women? |last1 = Conlin |first1 = Michelle |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2001-07-15/is-wal-mart-hostile-to-women |magazine = Bloomberg |date = July 16, 2001 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306080220/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2001-07-15/is-wal-mart-hostile-to-women |archive-date = March 6, 2016}}{{cite news |title = No way to treat a lady? |last1 = Zellner |first1 = Wendy |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2003-02-20/no-way-to-treat-a-lady |magazine = Bloomberg |date = March 3, 2003 |access-date = February 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306075839/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2003-02-20/no-way-to-treat-a-lady |archive-date = March 6, 2016}} Just 35 percent of its store managers were women, compared to 57 percent at similar retailers. Wal-Mart says comparisons with other retailers are unfair, because it classifies employees differently; if department managers were included in the totals, women would make up 60 percent of the managerial ranks.

In the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) 2002 Corporate Equality Index, a measure of how companies treat LGBT employees and customers, gave Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a score of 14%.{{cite web|url=https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/CorporateEqualityIndex_2002.pdf?_ga=2.49340005.2131199168.1520940955-1798760037.1512127430|title=2002 Corporate Equality Index|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919011517/https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/CorporateEqualityIndex_2002.pdf?_ga=2.49340005.2131199168.1520940955-1798760037.1512127430|url-status=live}} By 2017, however, HRC's 2017 Corporate Equality Index gave Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a score of a 100%.{{cite web|url=https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/CEI-2017-Final.pdf?_ga=2.11745527.2131199168.1520940955-1798760037.1512127430|title=2017 Corporate Equality Index|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=November 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113015240/https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/CEI-2017-Final.pdf?_ga=2.11745527.2131199168.1520940955-1798760037.1512127430|url-status=live}} In 2003, Walmart added sexual orientation to their anti-discrimination policy.{{cite news |author = Kershaw, Sarah |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/us/wal-mart-sets-a-new-policy-that-protects-gay-workers.html |title = Wal-Mart Sets a New Policy That Protects Gay Workers |work = The New York Times |date = July 2, 2003 |access-date = October 1, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120617024456/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/us/wal-mart-sets-a-new-policy-that-protects-gay-workers.html |archive-date = June 17, 2012}} In 2005, Walmart's definition of family began including same-sex partners.{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=24994&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm|title=HRC Applauds Wal-Mart's Inclusive Family Policy (press release)|date=January 27, 2005|publisher=Human Rights Campaign|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015532/http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=24994&TEMPLATE=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm|archive-date=September 30, 2007|access-date=October 1, 2006}}{{cite web |url = http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Get_Informed2&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33909 |title = Corporate Equality Index |publisher = Human Rights Campaign |year = 2006 |access-date = November 2, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061006104644/http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Get_Informed2&Template=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33909 |archive-date = October 6, 2006 }}{{cite web |url = http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/CEI-2016-FullReport.pdf |title = Corporate Equality Index 2016: Rating American Workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality |publisher = Human Rights Campaign |page = 69 |type = PDF |access-date = December 25, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151227150010/http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/CEI-2016-FullReport.pdf |archive-date = December 27, 2015}} In 2006, Walmart announced that "diversity efforts include new groups of minority, female and gay employees that meet at Walmart headquarters in Bentonville to advise the company on marketing and internal promotion. There are seven business resource groups: women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, gays and lesbians, and a disabled group."{{cite web |url = http://nlpc.org/sites/default/files/Walmart_SR.pdf |title = Wal-Mart Embraces Controversial Causes |publisher = National Legal and Policy Center |access-date = December 7, 2012 |author = Carlisle, John |page = 23 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025431/http://nlpc.org/sites/default/files/Walmart_SR.pdf |archive-date = January 17, 2013}} From 2006 to 2008, Walmart was a member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. In 2011, Walmart added gender identity to their anti-discrimination policy.{{cite web |url = http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/8/31/why-walmart-became-lgbt-friendly |title = Why Walmart Became LGBT-Friendly |date = August 31, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160903001537/http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/8/31/why-walmart-became-lgbt-friendly |archive-date = September 3, 2016}} Walmart's anti-discrimination policies allow associates to use restroom facilities that corresponds with their gender identity and gender expression.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/article/20120717/News/307179884|title=Company bathroom policy causes stink|first=Amanda|last=Kimble|date=July 17, 2012|work=Stephenville Empire Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163217/http://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/article/20120717/News/307179884|archive-date=June 12, 2018}} In 2013, Walmart began offering health insurance benefits to domestic partners.{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/374896/walmarts-remarkable-gay-rights-journey/|title=Walmart's remarkable gay rights journey|first=Matt|last=Phillips|date=April 2015|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130224340/https://qz.com/374896/walmarts-remarkable-gay-rights-journey/|url-status=live}} In 2015, Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, issued a statement opposing House Bill 1228 and asked Governor Asa Hutchinson to veto the bill.{{cite web|url=https://corporate.walmart.com/_news_/news-archive/2015/03/31/walmart-statement-on-arkansas-house-bill-1228|title=Walmart Statement on Arkansas House Bill 1228|website=corporate.walmart.com|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317102219/https://corporate.walmart.com/_news_/news-archive/2015/03/31/walmart-statement-on-arkansas-house-bill-1228|url-status=dead}} In 2016, Walmart began offering full healthcare benefits to its transgender employees.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gayrva.com/news-views/wal-mart-adds-full-healthcare-benefits-for-transgender-employees/|title=Wal-Mart adds full healthcare benefits for transgender employees|website=GayRVA|access-date=April 9, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203072204/http://www.gayrva.com/news-views/wal-mart-adds-full-healthcare-benefits-for-transgender-employees/|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Criticism of Walmart}}

Walmart has been subject to criticism from various groups and individuals, including labor unions, community groups, grassroots organizations, religious organizations, environmental groups, firearm groups, and the company's own customers and employees. They have protested against the company's policies and business practices, including charges of racial and gender discrimination.Kabel, Marcus. "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071800981.html Wal-Mart, Critics Slam Each Other on Web] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525061530/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071800981.html |date=May 25, 2017 }}". The Washington Post. July 18, 2006. Retrieved July 31, 2006.Sellers, Jeff M. (April 22, 2005). "[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/116/52.0.html Women Against Wal-Mart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121092201/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/116/52.0.html |date=November 21, 2008 }}". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 31, 2006.Sellers, Jeff M. (April 22, 2005). "[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/005/17.40.html Deliver Us from Wal-Mart?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013214512/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/005/17.40.html |date=October 13, 2008 }}". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 31, 2006. Other areas of criticism include the company's foreign product sourcing, treatment of suppliers, employee compensation and working conditions, environmental practices, the use of public subsidies, the company's security policies, and slavery.Norman, Al (2004). The Case Against Wal-Mart. Raphel Marketing, p. 7. {{ISBN|0-9711542-3-6}}.{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour |title = Revealed: Asian slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK |last1 = Hodal |first1 = Kate |first2 = Chris |last2 = Kelly |first3 = Felicity |last3 = Lawrence |date = June 10, 2014 |newspaper = The Guardian |quote = Charoen Pokphand (CP) Foods, buys fishmeal, which it feeds to its farmed prawns, from some suppliers that own, operate or buy from fishing boats manned with slaves. … CP Foods admits that slave labour is part of its supply chain. |access-date = June 11, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140611032723/http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour |archive-date = June 11, 2014}} Walmart denies wrongdoing and maintains that low prices are the result of efficiency.Copeland, Larry. (March 13, 2006). "[https://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2006-03-15-young-walmart-usat_x.htm Wal-Mart's hired advocate takes flak] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905062401/http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2006-03-15-young-walmart-usat_x.htm |date=September 5, 2012 }}". USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2006.Rodino Associates. (October 28, 2003). "[http://www.lacity.org/council/cd13/houscommecdev/cd13houscommecdev239629107_04262005.pdf Final Report on Research for Big Box Retail/Superstore Ordinance]". Los Angeles City Council. Retrieved July 31, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326214712/http://www.lacity.org/council/cd13/houscommecdev/cd13houscommecdev239629107_04262005.pdf |date=March 26, 2009 }}Smith, Hedrick. "[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/shots.html Who Calls the Shots in the Global Economy?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525050919/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/shots.html |date=May 25, 2017 }}" PBS. Retrieved July 31, 2006.

In 2012 and 2013, undercover investigations by Mercy for Animals showed pigs at Walmart pork suppliers being confined in gestation crates, castrated without anesthetic, and killed by a practice called "blunt force trauma," involving piglets being slammed against concrete floors.{{cite news |title=Local News Undercover Video Shows Alleged Mistreatment Of Minn. Pigs |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/undercover-video-shows-alleged-mistreatment-of-minn-pigs/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=CBS News |date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250601163319/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/undercover-video-shows-alleged-mistreatment-of-minn-pigs/ |archive-date=1 June 2025}} Mercy for Animals launched a high-profile campaign to pressure Walmart to stop sourcing crated pork, including protests at Walmart stores in at least 145 cities.{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Heather |title=Walmart responds to Mercy for Animals pig gestation crates protest |url=https://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/2013/07/walmart_responds_to_mercy_for.html |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=MLive |date=23 July 2013}} The campaign received support from actors James Cromwell, Ryan Gosling, Kristen Bell, and Zooey Deschanel, who signed a letter to Walmart CEO Mike Duke calling on the company to end the use of "cruel" gestation crates.{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Babe star James Cromwell attacks Walmart supplier's treatment of pigs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/30/babe-james-cromwell-walmart-pigs |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131101104229/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/30/babe-james-cromwell-walmart-pigs |archive-date=1 November 2013}}{{cite news |title=James Cromwell Appears in Video Asking Walmart to End ‘Torture’ of Pigs |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/james-cromwell-appears-video-asking-651448/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241116111046/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/james-cromwell-appears-video-asking-651448/ |archive-date=16 November 2024}} In May 2015, Walmart issued animal welfare guidelines suggesting that suppliers give pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves more room to move. The guidelines were criticized by animal welfare groups for not being mandatory.{{cite news |last1=Malcolm |first1=Hadley |title=Walmart pushes stricter animal welfare policy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/05/22/walmart-animal-welfare-policy/27772285/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=USA Today |date=22 May 2015 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150525024023/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/05/22/walmart-animal-welfare-policy/27772285/ |archive-date=25 May 2015}}

In 2024, the shareholder activism organization The Accountability Board authored a shareholder resolution requesting that Walmart publish targets for ending the use of gestation crates in its pork supply chain. The company suggested that shareholders vote against the resolution.{{cite news |last1=Sparkman |first1=Worth |title=Walmart shareholders to vote on welfare plans for animals, humans |url=https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/23/walmart-shareholders-animal-human-rights-proposals |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=Axios |date=23 May 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240523230135/https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/23/walmart-shareholders-animal-human-rights-proposals |archive-date=23 May 2024}} At a shareholder meeting in June 2024, the resolution received the support of 12.5% of Walmart investors.{{cite news |last1=Zhao |first1=Claire |title=Walmart shareholders voted down proposals on animal welfare, racial equity, workplace violence, and others |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91137884/walmart-shareholder-proposals-animal-welfare-racial-equity-workplace-violence-voted-down |access-date=9 June 2025 |work=Fast Company |date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240612005437/https://www.fastcompany.com/91137884/walmart-shareholder-proposals-animal-welfare-racial-equity-workplace-violence-voted-down |archive-date=12 June 2024}}

In April 2016, Walmart announced plans to eliminate battery cage eggs from its supply chain by 2025.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4282952/walmart-eggs-cage-free/|title=Walmart Will Sell Completely Cage-Free Eggs by 2025|author=Chan, Melissa|magazine=Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816220136/http://time.com/4282952/walmart-eggs-cage-free/|archive-date=August 16, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2016}} The decision was particularly important because of Walmart's large market share and influence on the rest of the industry.{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2016/04/05/walmart-vow-cage-free-eggs/|title=Walmart Is the Latest Retailer to Make a Cage-Free Egg Vow|author=Kell, John|work=Fortune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703042107/http://fortune.com/2016/04/05/walmart-vow-cage-free-eggs/|archive-date=July 3, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-05/wal-mart-will-sell-100-cage-free-eggs-by-2025-in-industry-shift|title=Wal-Mart Will Switch to All Cage-Free Eggs by 2025|last=Turner|first=Nick|date=April 5, 2016|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811172221/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-05/wal-mart-will-sell-100-cage-free-eggs-by-2025-in-industry-shift|archive-date=August 11, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=August 11, 2016}} The move was praised by major animal welfare groups{{cite web|url=http://modernfarmer.com/2016/04/walmart-cage-free-eggs/|title=Walmart Vows to Purchase All Eggs from Cage-Free Sources By 2025|author=Amelinckx, Andrew|date=April 13, 2016|publisher=Modern Farmer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817182424/http://modernfarmer.com/2016/04/walmart-cage-free-eggs/|archive-date=August 17, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2016}} but a poultry trade group representative expressed skepticism about the decision's impact. Walmart's cage-free eggs will not come from free range producers, but rather industrial-scale farms where the birds will be allotted between 1 and 1.5 square feet each, a stressful arrangement which can cause cannibalism. Unlike battery cages, the systems of Walmart's suppliers allow the hens to move around, but relative to battery cages they have higher hen mortality rates and present distinct environmental and worker health problems.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/business/eggs-that-clear-the-cages-but-maybe-not-the-conscience.html |title=Eggs That Clear the Cages, but Maybe Not the Conscience|author=Gelles, David|work=The New York Times|date=July 16, 2016 |access-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722092649/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/business/eggs-that-clear-the-cages-but-maybe-not-the-conscience.html |archive-date=July 22, 2016|url-status=live}} As of 2023, only 21% of Walmart's eggs were produced in cage-free facilities.{{cite news |last1=Norfleet |first1=Nicole |title=Target won’t meet its cage-free egg goal in 2025 |url=https://www.startribune.com/cage-free-cage-free-eggs-target-walmart-sustainability-esg-goals-pledges/601112057 |access-date=8 June 2025 |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=15 August 2024}}

In March 2018, Walmart was sued by former Director of Business Development Tri Huynh for claims of reporting misleading e-commerce performance results in favor of the company. Huynh stated the company's move was an attempt to regain lost ground to competitor Amazon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/whistle-blower-claims-walmart-cheated-in-race-with-amazon/|title=Whistle-blower claims Walmart cheated in race with Amazon|work=Seattle Times|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616182540/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/whistle-blower-claims-walmart-cheated-in-race-with-amazon/|url-status=live}}

In September 2018, Walmart was sued by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Walmart denied requests from pregnant employees to limit heavy lifting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2018/09/24/502120.htm|title=U.S. Lawsuit Accuses Walmart of Bias Against Pregnant Employees|date=September 24, 2018|work=Insurance Journal|access-date=September 25, 2018|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616172939/https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2018/09/24/502120.htm|url-status=live}}

In July 2019, the Walmart subreddit was flooded with pro-union memes in a protest to the firing of an employee who posted confidential material to the subreddit.{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/walmart-employees-post-union-memes-to-mess-with-corporate.html|title=Walmart Workers Realize Corporate Is Spying on Them, Retaliate With Union Memes|last=Feldman|first=Brian|date=July 12, 2019|website=Intelligencer|access-date=July 13, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108004540/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/walmart-employees-post-union-memes-to-mess-with-corporate.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-walmart-subreddit-has-been-flooded-with-pro-union-memes/|title=The Walmart Subreddit Has Been Flooded With Pro-Union Memes|last1=Ongweso|first1=Edward Jr|last2=Koebler|first2=Jason|date=July 11, 2019|website=Vice|access-date=July 13, 2019|archive-date=July 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713035842/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mb8y9a/the-walmart-subreddit-has-been-flooded-with-pro-union-memes|url-status=live}} Many of these posts were angry with Walmart surveying its staff on the Internet. The posting of the union content is in response to the aforementioned alleged anti-union position Walmart has taken in the past.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/walmart-subreddit-union-memes-employee-benefits-1448795|title=Why Walmart employees are flooding its subreddit with pro-union memes|first=Andrew|last=Whalen|date=July 11, 2019|website=Newsweek|access-date=July 13, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212170037/https://www.newsweek.com/walmart-subreddit-union-memes-employee-benefits-1448795|url-status=live}}

In June 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Walmart, alleging that the company facilitated money transfer fraud by allowing its money transfer services to be used by scammers who stole hundreds of millions of dollars from customers.{{Cite news |title=FTC sues Walmart, alleging it let scammers access money transfer service |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/29/walmart-ftc-lawsuit-money-transfer-fraud/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809231216/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/29/walmart-ftc-lawsuit-money-transfer-fraud/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=June 29, 2022 |title=The FTC sues Walmart for failing to block scammers' money transfers |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/29/1108562327/walmart-money-transfer-scammers-federal-trade-commission-lawsuit |access-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727192547/https://www.npr.org/2022/06/29/1108562327/walmart-money-transfer-scammers-federal-trade-commission-lawsuit |url-status=live }}

According to an August 2016 report by Bloomberg Businessweek, aggressive cost-cutting decisions that began in 2000 when Lee Scott took over as CEO of the company led to a significant increase in crime in stores across the United States. These included the removal of the store's famed greeters, who are in part seen as a theft deterrent at exits, the replacement of many cashiers with self-checkout stations, and the addition of stores at a rate that exceeded the hiring of new employees, which led to a 19% increase in space per employee from a decade previous. While these decisions succeeded in increasing profits 23% in the decade that followed, they also led to an increase in both theft and violent crime.

In 2015, under CEO Doug McMillon, Walmart began a company-wide campaign to reduce crime that included spot-checking receipts at exits, stationing employees at self-checkout areas, eye-level security cameras in high-theft areas, use of data analytics to detect credit fraud, hiring off-duty police and private security officers, and reducing calls to police with a program by which first-time offenders caught stealing merchandise below a certain value can avoid arrest if they agree to go through a theft-prevention program.{{Cite web |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-walmart-crime/ |title = Walmart's Out-of-Control Crime Problem is Driving Police Crazy |last = Pettypiece |first = Shannon |magazine = Bloomberg Businessweek |date = August 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160818000539/https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-walmart-crime/ |archive-date = August 18, 2016}}

Law enforcement agencies across the United States have noted a burden on resources created by a disproportionate number of calls from Walmart. Experts have criticized the retailer for shifting its security burden onto the taxpayers. Across three Florida counties, approximately 9,000 police calls were logged to 53 Walmart stores but resulted in only a few hundred arrests.{{Cite news|url=https://projects.tampabay.com/projects/2016/public-safety/walmart-police/|title=Tampa Bay Walmarts get thousands of police calls leaving taxpayers to pay the bill.|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201826/http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2016/public-safety/walmart-police/|url-status=live}} In Granite Falls, North Carolina, 92% of larceny calls to local police were from the Walmart store.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wsoctv.com/news/9-investigates/walmart-has-become-crime-magnet-in-many-north-carolina-cities/695879615|title=Walmart has become crime magnet in many North Carolina cities|last=Faherty|first=Dave|date=February 9, 2018|publisher=WSOC|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211082801/http://www.wsoctv.com/news/9-investigates/walmart-has-become-crime-magnet-in-many-north-carolina-cities/695879615|url-status=live}} The trend is similar in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Police are called to Walmart stores 3 to 4 times as much as similar retailers such as Target.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/crime-and-courts/4303214-analysis-police-called-disproportionately-walmart-stores|title=Analysis: Police called disproportionately to Walmart stores|access-date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021643/http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/crime-and-courts/4303214-analysis-police-called-disproportionately-walmart-stores|url-status=dead}} Experts say the chain and its razor-thin profit margins rely heavily on police to protect its bottom line. Walmart Supercenters top the list of those most visited by police.

In addition to hundreds of thousands of petty crimes, more than 200 violent crimes, including attempted kidnappings, stabbings, shootings, and murders occurred at the 4,500 Walmarts in the U.S. in 2016. In 2019, 23 people were killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.

On June 27, 2020, a shooting occurred at a Walmart distribution center in Red Bluff, California, United States. One employee was killed and the shooter was killed by officers.{{Cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Jenny|last2=Fazio|first2=Marie|date=June 27, 2020|title=2 Dead in Shooting at Walmart Distribution Center in California, Official Says|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/27/us/walmart-shooting-red-bluff-california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628003004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/27/us/walmart-shooting-red-bluff-california.html |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=June 28, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=Two dead, four injured in Walmart distribution center shooting|date=June 28, 2020|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-dead-four-injured-walmart-distribution-center-shooting-n1232348|access-date=June 28, 2020|publisher=NBC News|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217234937/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-dead-four-injured-walmart-distribution-center-shooting-n1232348|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=D'Angelo |first=Bob |title=2 killed, 4 injured in shooting at Walmart distribution center in California|url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/least-3-injured-shooting-walmart-california/GXCU5YELERH3NIHV7YLS73IS7Y/|access-date=June 28, 2020|publisher=KIRO|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919031831/https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/least-3-injured-shooting-walmart-california/GXCU5YELERH3NIHV7YLS73IS7Y/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=June 27, 2020|title=2 Dead In Shooting At Walmart Distribution Center In Red Bluff, Authorities Say|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/06/27/reports-of-active-shooter-at-walmart-distribution-center-in-red-bluff/|access-date=June 28, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002133901/https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/06/27/reports-of-active-shooter-at-walmart-distribution-center-in-red-bluff/|url-status=live}}

In 2012, Walmart's pork and mango supply chain was contaminated, resulting in a large number of customers suffering from severe food poisoning. In order to resolve the incident immediately, Walmart recalled all contaminated pork and mangoes and emptied its inventory to prevent further sales.{{Cite journal |last1=Merrad |first1=Yaçine |last2=Habaebi |first2=Mohamed Hadi |last3=Elsheikh |first3=Elfatih A. A. |last4=Suliman |first4=Fakher Eldin M. |last5=Islam |first5=Md Rafiqul |last6=Gunawan |first6=Teddy Surya |last7=Mesri |first7=Mokhtaria |date=January 2022 |title=Blockchain: Consensus Algorithm Key Performance Indicators, Trade-Offs, Current Trends, Common Drawbacks, and Novel Solution Proposals |journal=Mathematics |language=en |volume=10 |issue=15 |pages=2754 |doi=10.3390/math10152754 |doi-access=free |issn=2227-7390}}

In May 2019, the Center for Inquiry filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia alleging consumer fraud and the endangering of its customers' health due to Walmart's practice of "selling homeopathic [products] alongside real medicine, in the same sections in its stores, under the same signs", according to Nicholas Little, CFI's vice president and general counsel.{{cite magazine |last1=Fidalgo |first1=Paul |year=2019 |title=CFI Sues Walmart for Fraud for Selling Homeopathic Fake Medicine |magazine=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=43 |issue=5 |page=5 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/05/31/americas-largest-retailer-sued-for-selling-fake-medicine/|title=America's Largest Retailer Sued For Selling Fake Medicine|last=Fisher|first=Nicole|website=Forbes|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221223415/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/05/31/americas-largest-retailer-sued-for-selling-fake-medicine/|url-status=live}} On May 20, 2020, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Florence Pan dismissed CFI's lawsuit, claiming that CFI had no standing as a consumer protection organization and failed to identify the specific actions on the part of Walmart that led to harm to consumers. CFI has challenged both of those arguments and is planning an appeal.{{cite magazine |date=September–October 2020 |title=Judge Dismisses CFI Suit Against Walmart On Homeopathy; Appeal Planned |magazine=Skeptical Inquirer |location=Amherst, New York |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=}}

In November 2021, a federal jury found that Walmart, along with Walgreens and CVS, "had substantially contributed to" the opioid crisis.{{Cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Jan|date=November 23, 2021|title=CVS, Walgreens and Walmart Fueled Opioid Crisis, Jury Finds|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/health/walmart-cvs-opioid-lawsuit-verdict.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/health/walmart-cvs-opioid-lawsuit-verdict.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=December 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}} The damages between the three chains in this suit totalled $650 million. Damages claimed by the lawyers for Lake County and Trumbull County in Ohio were $3.3 billion.{{Cite web |title=Walgreens, Walmart and CVS ordered to pay $650 million over opioid sales |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walgreens-walmart-cvs-ordered-pay-650-million-opioid-sales-rcna43698 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=NBC News |date=August 18, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820164340/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walgreens-walmart-cvs-ordered-pay-650-million-opioid-sales-rcna43698 |url-status=live }}

• "Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes" – a 2004 episode of Comedy Central's South Park
• A Walmart Supercenter appeared in the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, at a fictional Oklahoma town, Summerville. It was filmed in a Walmart store (Store #3013) on location in Deerfoot City shopping center at Calgary, Alberta.{{cite book |last1=Inguanzo |first1=Ozzy |title=Ghostbusters: Afterlife: The Art and Making of the Movie |date=November 2021 |publisher=Titan Books |location=London |isbn=9781789096521 |page=158 |edition=First}}
• Gail Lewis had worked at the Morris, Illinois Walmart for ten years. Lewis signed off for the final time in her November 16, 2023 TikTok video, which went viral and amassed 25 million views in ten days.{{Cite web |last=Browning |first=Oliver |date=27 November 2023 |title=Long-time Walmart worker's emotional goodbye message goes viral: 'End of an era' |website=Independent.co.uk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/walmart-careers-viral-goodbye-message-b2454134.html}} Lewis described her coworkers as family but that she was looking forward to her new job. In a Facebook message to NBC Chicago, Lewis gave thanks for the support and said she had already started her new job and "loves the work".{{Cite web |last=Stefanski |first=Matt |date=2023-11-25 |title=Illinois Walmart employee's sign-off message after 10 years on the job goes viral |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/gail-lewis-illinois-walmart-employee-sign-off-message-after-10-years-on-the-job-goes-viral/3286953/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}

{{Portal|United States|Business and economics|Companies}}

• Big-box store
• Lukas Walton
• Walmart greeter
• Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach – former name of a golf tournament
• Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price – a 2005 documentary film by director Robert Greenwald
• Walmarting – a neologism
• Why Wal-Mart Works; and Why That Drives Some People C-R-A-Z-Y – a 2005 rebuttal to the Greenwald documentary

{{Notelist}}{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikinews category|Wal-Mart}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://corporate.walmart.com/ Walmart Inc. Corporate website]
• {{OpenSecrets}}

{{Finance links

| name = Walmart Inc.

| symbol = WMT

| sec_cik = 104169

| yahoo = WMT

| reuters = WMT.N

| google = WMT:NYSE

}}

• {{OpenCorp|Walmart}}

{{Walmart}}

{{Dow Jones Industrial Average companies}}

{{Major retail companies}}

{{Supermarkets of the United States}}

{{Supermarkets in Argentina}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1962 establishments in Arkansas

Category:1970s initial public offerings

Category:American companies established in 1962

Category:Bentonville, Arkansas

Category:Companies based in Arkansas

Category:Companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average

Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:Companies in the Dow Jones Global Titans 50

Category:Companies in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats

Category:Consumer electronics retailers of the United States

Category:Discount stores of the United States

Category:Garden centres

Category:Hypermarkets of the United States

Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the United States

Category:Online retailers of the United States

Category:Retail companies established in 1962

Category:Supermarkets of China

Category:Supermarkets of the United States

Category:Superstores in the United States

Category:Toy retailers of the United States

Category:Walton family