Walmart Refreshes Produce Shopping Experience 

Walmart knows how important fresh, high-quality produce is to customers.

That’s why, a few years ago, Walmart committed to a relentless focus on quality improvement and giving customers the best fresh produce possible. Walmart added more organic and locally grown foods. Walmart deepened relationships with farmers – and by taking days out of the supply chain, the retailer has been able to provide fresh produce that lasts longer at home.

Then, Walmart had to make sure customers understood they could trust the quality of produce in stores. So, Walmart redesigned the department with more light, better signing and specially angled fixtures to make shopping easier. Also...

Walmart Releases Q3 FY20 Earnings

"We're pleased with our performance for the quarter. Our associates are responding to change in an inspiring way, and we're proud of them. The Walmart U.S. business saw strong comp sales and expense leverage, and operating income grew for the sixth consecutive quarter. We also celebrated the first anniversary of Flipkart and PhonePe as part of the Walmart family. It was great to see record sales in India during The Big Billion Days event. Looking ahead, we're prepared for a good holiday season. Our integrated offering with stores and eCommerce delivers value and convenience for our customers. Our associates are working hard to ensure we succeed -- one customer, one interaction at a time," said CEO and President Doug McMillon.

• Total revenue was $128.0 billion, an increase of $3.1 billion, or 2.5%. Excluding currency, total revenue was $129.0 billion, an increase of $4.1 billion, or 3.3%.
• Walmart U.S. comp sales increased on a two-year stacked basis by 6.6%. Market share gains in the business were led by food and consumables, including...

Amazon to Overtake Walmart by 2022, Forecasts New Packaged Facts Report

Amazon is set to become the largest retailer in the United States. While Walmart is currently the largest retailer, its reign may end in 2022, at which time market research firm Packaged Facts forecasts that Amazon will surpass Walmart, based on the expectation that Amazon sales will continue to grow at a much faster rate.

Packaged Facts made the prediction in the brand new report, Amazon Strategies and the Amazon Shopper, 2nd Edition, which analyzes the e-commerce giant's activities in grocery, pet products, and financial services.

"Amazon's already has an enormous impact on e-commerce sales, benefitting from its creation of an endless online aisle with...

Walmart's InHome Delivery Service Officially Launches in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Vero Beach

Early this summer, Walmart announced InHome Delivery, its latest innovation aimed toward giving time back to families by delivering fresh groceries and everyday essentials directly into their kitchen or garage fridges. Today, for the first time ever, Walmart is thrilled to launch this new service for over 1 million customers in Pittsburgh, Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas) and Vero Beach.

The company is obsessed with simplifying grocery shopping and finding ways to make customers’ lives easier. That’s why InHome goes the extra step so that customers can live their lives without worrying about making it to the store or being home to accept a delivery.

All it takes to use the service is three simple steps...

Walmart Names John Furner President & CEO of Walmart U.S.

Today, Walmart announced that John Furner will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart U.S., following a successful five years for the business segment under Greg Foran. Furner will report directly to Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon, and the move will be effective November 1. Foran, who is taking a role as CEO at Air New Zealand Limited, will stay on with Walmart through January 31 to ensure a smooth transition.

“John has done a fantastic job at Sam’s Club, and he will continue the momentum we have in Walmart U.S.,” said McMillon. “John knows our business well, having held many different jobs in the company over more than 25 years, and he is helping transform it for the future. He has the experience and judgment to know what we should continue doing and what we should...

Mighty Spark Continues Rapid Growth with Launch of All-Natural Poultry at Walmart and CVS

Mighty Spark, an independent company that donates a meal with each purchase consumers make of their all-natural premium poultry, is expanding its assortment and presence at retailers nationwide with the launch of patties and ground blends at select Walmart stores, and chicken snack sticks at 2,500 CVS locations.

"In addition to launching at Walmart and CVS stores, Mighty Spark's rapid expansion includes recent launches at Giant Landover, United Supermarkets, Save Mart, Lucky, Rouses and more, expanding our nationwide presence to thousands of additional stores to bring more consumers healthy, delicious protein," said Nick Beste, CEO and Founder, Mighty Spark. "With our expanded distribution comes...

Walmart to Roll Out Delivery Unlimited to Stores Across the Country

Walmart has plans to expand the reach of Delivery Unlimited – a Grocery Delivery membership option for customers – to 1,400 stores later this fall. The program gives customers the option to pay a yearly $98 fee or a monthly $12.95 fee to receive unlimited Walmart Grocery Delivery orders. Customers will continue to have the option to pay a per-delivery fee, without a membership.

“Grocery Delivery takes convenience to a new level, and our customers love it. With Delivery Unlimited, we’re providing incredible value for our customers and leveraging our unique assets to save them both time and money,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer, Walmart.

The retailer began piloting Delivery Unlimited in four markets – Houston, Miami, Salt Lake City and Tampa – earlier this year. Based on the positive response of customers, Walmart is expanding the program to all 200 metro areas where...

Walmart's Innovative Approach to Convenience Around the World

Shopping lists are increasingly including a new item: convenience.

The grocery industry is a great example. American shoppers average about 60 minutes spent shopping for food each week. To cut this time down, more and more of Walmart’s U.S. customers find themselves taking advantage of online shopping options like pickup and delivery.

But the U.S. isn’t the only place customers want convenience. Walmart Canada’s recent announcement to expand grocery delivery with Instacart demonstrates how quickly customers are responding to time-saving innovations in...

Walmart Releases Q2 FY20 Earnings

Total revenue was $130.4 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion, or 1.8%. Excluding currency, total revenue was $131.7 billion, an increase of $3.7 billion, or 2.9%.

Walmart U.S. comp sales increased on a two-year stacked basis by 7.3%, which is the strongest growth in more than 10 years. Segment operating income increased 4%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.

Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales growth of 37% includes strong growth in online grocery.

Sam's Club comp sales increased 1.2%, and eCommerce sales grew 35%. Reduced tobacco sales negatively affected...

Walmart Begins Pilot with Autonomous Vehicle Company Gatik

To address consumer demand for convenience, Walmart is bringing the best of their grocery pickup and delivery service to communities across the United States. The company is testing new and innovative capabilities that will improve the business and shape the future of retail. Walmart has been exploring pilot options with self-driving car companies that include customer delivery as well as transporting goods between store locations. Today, Walmart has announced a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company Gatik.

In March, Arkansas passed legislation that allows self-driving vehicles to operate in the state. Through Gatik, Walmart is staying on the cutting edge of grocery pickup by testing the vehicles to move customers' orders on a two-mile route in Bentonville between stores. This will aid Walmart in learning more...

Walmart Announces Plan to Invest $1.2 Billion to Upgrade Logistics in China

Ryan McDaniel, Senior Vice President of Walmart China Supply Chain, announced Monday that Walmart will increase its investment in its supply-chain logistics. In addition to building the first customized perishable food distribution center, the South China Fresh Food Distribution Center, the company plans to increase investment in its supply-chain logistics in China by RMB 8 billion, or about $1.2 billion, building or upgrading more than 10 logistics distribution centers over the next 10-20 years.

Walmart invested more than RMB 700 million to build the South China Fresh Food Distribution Center, which has been in operation since March 2019. It currently serves more than 100 Walmart stores in Guangdong and Guangxi, with daily distributing capacity of up to...

ALLETE Clean Energy's Diamond Spring Wind Project Will Provide Renewable Energy to Corporations

Allete Clean Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), announced today a power sales agreement with Smithfield Foods, Inc. for the remaining output of the Diamond Spring wind site ALLETE Clean Energy will build, own and operate in Oklahoma.

The Smithfield agreement follows an earlier announcement of power sale agreements with two large Fortune 500 companies, Walmart and Starbucks. Walmart has agreed to purchase 175 megawatts for 15 years, Smithfield will purchase 75 megawatts for 12 years, and Starbucks will purchase 50 megawatts for 15 years. The approximately 300-megawatt Diamond Spring site, which is ALLETE Clean Energy’s first project to sell wind power to corporate customers, is now fully contracted with the Smithfield agreement...

Walmart is Taking Grocery Delivery One Step Further

Consumers have more options than ever before when it comes to how they receive their groceries. Customers can shop in stores, order online for free pickup, or have groceries delivered to their front doors. Now, Walmart is on track to offer Grocery Pickup from 3,100 stores and same-day Grocery Delivery from 1,600 stores by the end of the year. To make grocery shopping an even easier experience for customers, Walmart is offering the option to order fresh groceries and have them be delivered directly into their refrigerator.

Walmart InHome Delivery is a new service designed to help consumers save time and offer another convenient option for grocery shopping. Customers can place a grocery order and then select InHome Delivery and a delivery date at checkout. Then, consumers can go about their daily routine while a Walmart associate completes their grocery shopping for them, from aisle to fridge...

Walmart Offers One-Day Shipping Without a Membership Fee

When customers shop with us, they expect to find great items at low prices. They also want shopping to be easy and convenient, including getting the items they order online quickly. Our 4,700 stores, site and app combine to create an incredible range of choices for customers.

We started with same-day pickup in our stores in 2011 and began offering two-day free shipping two years ago with no membership fee. But, the most exciting development has been the creation of Grocery Pickup and Delivery. We’re on track to offer Grocery Pickup from 3,100 stores and same-day Grocery Delivery from 1,600 stores by year-end, which will provide coverage to...

Walmart Enhances Sustainability in Supply Chains

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today issued its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which details the company’s goals, progress and achievements for fiscal year 2019 toward its commitment to increase economic opportunity for associates and local communities, build sustainability in supply chains and activate climate change initiatives.

Walmart is disclosing progress to date in several areas including:

Activating Climate Change Initiatives

• Climate Change Impact Scenario Analysis – Walmart worked with an independent third-party consultant to better understand the nature of climate change and potential implications for the retail sector aiming to align with the scenario guidance set forth by the Task Force on...

Walmart’s New Intelligent Retail Lab Shows a Glimpse into the Future of Retail

Over the past few months, a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Levittown, New York, has been quietly transforming. With artificial intelligence-enabled cameras, interactive displays and a massive data center, this store suggests a retail future that seems like science fiction.

But this store isn’t just a shiny new object, equipped with tech for the sake of tech. It’s a unique real-world shopping environment designed to explore the possibilities artificial intelligence can contribute to the store experience. It’s Walmart’s new Intelligent Retail Lab – or “IRL” for short.

While the application of AI in e-commerce is now table stakes, there haven’t been many physical explorations of its potential. But IRL is designed...

Announcement Regarding Proposed Merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today published its Final Report on the proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s, resulting in prohibition of the merger.

Despite the clear customer benefits of the proposed merger, as a result of the CMA’s findings, Asda, its parent Walmart and Sainsbury’s have mutually agreed to terminate the transaction.

Commenting on the proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s, Judith McKenna, CEO of Walmart International, said:

“We have been clear from the beginning of the proposed merger about two things. Firstly, that retail is rapidly changing and standing still is not an option, and secondly that...

Walmart to Create Angus Beef Supply Chain

Walmart, the nation’s largest grocer, announced its entry into the beef industry, developing an end-to-end supply chain for Angus beef.

The retailer has been diligently working to improve the quality of its food offering with the company’s fresh division and meat department at the forefront of this effort. To ensure supply of quality Angus beef and to meet customer demand for a more transparent supply chain, Walmart is working with best-in-class partners including Texas rancher Bob McClaren of Prime Pursuits.

“As clean labels, traceability and transparency become more and more important to customers, we’ve made plans to enter into the beef industry creating an unmatched system that allows us to deliver consistent quality and...

Walmart Offers New Voice Capabilities for Grocery Shopping 

Customers love our Grocery Pickup and Delivery options. These services make life easier and help customers get back to the things they like doing the most.

What if we could make it even easier?

We continue to innovate for the future and look to technology to make great services even better in the future. Introducing: Walmart Voice Order.

With the new voice ordering capabilities we’re building across platforms with partners like Google, we’re helping ...

Reinvented Truck Driver Orientation Helps Add New Hires to Walmart’s Fleet

With more than 1,400 new Walmart truck drivers added in 2018, hundreds more are slated to join the fleet in 2019.

Assessments, mentorship and a faster hiring process are all a part of new onboarding events that are filling critical new jobs created by Walmart’s business growth during an industry-wide shortage.

The revamped orientation initiatives have already cut in half the time between a candidate’s initial interview and a mandatory driving assessment, expediting the time it takes to complete a new hire.

“These hiring events are both improving the skill level of our candidates and enriching their onboarding experience,” said Lori Furnell, Walmart’s director of ...

Walmart Expands its Grocery Delivery Service Providers

Walmart Teams up with Point Pickup, Skipcart, AxleHire and Roadie to expand Grocery Delivery

Walmart today announced the addition of four delivery companies to its team to help expand the retailer’s popular Online Grocery Delivery option. Point Pickup, Skipcart, AxleHire and Roadie will help power Walmart’s Online Grocery Delivery in metro areas across four states with further expansion planned in the coming weeks. Today, Walmart Grocery Delivery is available in more than 800 stores with another 800 being adding this year.

“Customers love our Grocery Delivery service. As they are busy managing jobs, soccer practice, dance lessons and social schedules we are on a mission to ...

High-Tech Consolidation Center Set to Open in July, Adding Efficiency to Walmart’s Supply Chain

This July, a Walmart supply chain first is coming to Colton, California. A newly built, 340,000-square-foot high-tech consolidation center will be the first in Walmart’s supply chain to receive, sort and ship freight. This automated technology will enable three times more volume to flow throughout the center and helps Walmart deliver the right product to the right store, so customers can find the products they need.

This massive Walmart-owned center, which will open in July with 150 full-time associates can move three times as many cases. It will grow to employ more than 600 associates by 2021. With the combined might of people and world-class logistic technology, this facility will be the most efficient consolidation center in ...

Custom Autonomous Cargo Vans to Deliver Groceries in Walmart’s Pilot with Udelv

Over the last few years we’ve been working hard to bring Grocery Pickup and Delivery to more and more customers across the country for one reason: Customers love it! It makes shopping easy and saves loads of time.

But, we’re not stopping with simply rolling out the service to more stores. We continue to explore new ways that can make what’s easy today even easier tomorrow. That includes testing a number of things, including autonomous vehicle technology – and today, we’re announcing a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company, Udelv.

The pilot program with Udelv will take place in Surprise, Arizona. What’s really cool is that Udelv will utilize a cargo van custom-made to...

Walmart Dominates with Unmatched Omni-Channel Grocery Momentum, According to Packaged Facts

Walmart is the in-store grocery leader. Some 27% of in-store grocery purchasers say Walmart is the in-store retailer they get groceries from most, more than twice as many as Kroger, the next most chosen retailer, according to market research firm Packaged Facts in the report U.S. Grocery Market Focus: The Walmart Food Shopper. While Walmart may be behind the overall e-commerce curve, it is already a leading online grocery player. Packaged Facts reveals that 23% of online grocery purchasers claim Walmart is the one they use most for groceries, second only to Amazon, with 38%.

To build out its omni-channel grocery capabilities, Walmart has only just begun leveraging its roughly 4,000 Walmart-branded and 600 Sam's Club branded grocery and ...