History of Walmart in Timeline
Walmart is a multinational retail corporation operating hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores in the U.S. and internationally. Founded in 1962 by Sam and James "Bud" Walton in Rogers, Arkansas, its headquarters are in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart also owns and operates Sam's Club retail warehouses, solidifying its position as a major player in the retail industry.
1945: Sam Walton Buys Ben Franklin Store Branch
In 1945, Sam Walton, a businessman and former J.C. Penney employee, purchased a Ben Franklin store branch, which he used to test his retail strategies.
1954: Inspiration from FedMart
In 1954, Sol Price founded FedMart, a chain of discount department stores, which inspired Sam Walton to name his discount chain "Wal-Mart."
1961: Inspiration from Ann & Hope
In 1961, Sam Walton visited Ann & Hope, which inspired the design of the first Wal-Mart Discount City store.
July 2, 1962: First Wal-Mart Discount City Opens
On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City store in Rogers, Arkansas, marking the beginning of the Walmart chain.
1962: Walmart Founded
In 1962, brothers Sam and James "Bud" Walton founded Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas, marking the beginning of the multinational retail corporation.
1968: First Stores Open Outside Arkansas
In 1968, Walmart expanded its operations by opening its first stores outside of Arkansas, specifically in Sikeston, Missouri, and Claremore, Oklahoma.
October 31, 1969: Incorporation as Wal-Mart, Inc.
On October 31, 1969, the company was incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law as Wal-Mart, Inc., marking a formal step in its business development.
October 1, 1970: Publicly Held Company
On October 1, 1970, Walmart began trading stock as a publicly held company, and was soon listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1970: Home Office and First Distribution Center Opened
In 1970, Walmart opened its home office and first distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas, to support its growing operations.
May 1971: First Stock Split
In May 1971, Walmart had its first stock split for $47 per share, indicating increased investor interest and confidence in the company.
1971: Previous Headquarters Constructed
In 1971, Walmart's previous headquarters building was built which was later replaced in 2017.
1972: Listed on the New York Stock Exchange
In 1972, Walmart was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
1973: Expansion into Tennessee
In 1973, Walmart expanded its operations by entering Tennessee, increasing its regional presence.
1974: Expansion into Kentucky and Mississippi
In 1974, Walmart continued its expansion by entering Kentucky and Mississippi, further solidifying its presence in the South.
1975: Expansion into Texas
In 1975, Walmart expanded its operations by entering Texas, reaching 125 stores with 7,500 employees and $340.3 million in total sales.
1980: Experimentation with Hyper-Mart
In the 1980s, Walmart experimented with the Hyper-Mart, a precursor to the Supercenter that combined features of discount stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and video arcades.
1983: First Sam's Club Opens
In 1983, Walmart, Inc. opened the first Sam's Club in Midwest City, Oklahoma, originally named "Sam's Wholesale Club." The chain was named after its founder Sam Walton.
1984: Sourcing Products From China
By 1984, Sam Walton began to source between 6% and 40% of his company's products from China, beginning a global sourcing strategy.
1985: Hillary Clinton Joins Walmart Board
In 1985, Hillary Clinton joined Walmart's Board of Directors.
1987: 25th Anniversary
In 1987, Walmart celebrated its 25th anniversary with 1,198 stores, sales of $15.9 billion, and 200,000 associates.
1987: Completion of Satellite Network
In 1987, Walmart completed its satellite network, a $24 million investment that linked all stores with two-way voice and data transmissions.
1988: Most Profitable Retailer in the U.S.
By 1988, Walmart had become the most profitable retailer in the U.S., showcasing its success and dominance in the market.
1988: David Glass Replaces Sam Walton as CEO
In 1988, Sam Walton stepped down as CEO and was replaced by David Glass, although Walton remained as chairman of the board; and the first Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri.
1988: Previous Slogan Usage
Since 1988, Walmart had been using the slogan "Always Low Prices, Always" until it was replaced on September 12, 2007.
October 1989: Largest U.S. Retailer by Revenue
In October 1989, Walmart became the largest retailer in the U.S. in terms of revenue, solidifying its position as a market leader.
November 1989: Sam's Club Opens in New Jersey
In November 1989, Sam's Club, a retail warehouse owned by Walmart, opened its doors in New Jersey, marking its entry into the Northeast market.
1989: Employment study
A net increase in employment (55 jobs) was found in a study of West Virginia counties between 1989 and 1998.
July 1990: First California Outlet Opens
In July 1990, the first Walmart outlet in California opened in Lancaster, expanding the company's presence to the West Coast.
October 1990: First Main Store Opens in the Northeast
In October 1990, Walmart opened its first main store in the Northeast in York, Pennsylvania, further extending its geographic reach.
1990: Largest U.S. Retailer by Revenue
By 1990, Walmart became the largest U.S. retailer by revenue, surpassing its rivals Kmart and Sears.
1990: West Coast and Northeast Expansion
In 1990, Walmart expanded to the West Coast and Northeast, opening stores in California and Pennsylvania, respectively.
1991: Walmart Launches Private Label Brands
In 1991, Walmart began offering private label brands, starting with Sam's Choice, a line of drinks produced by Primo Water.
1991: Expansion into Mexico
In 1991, Walmart expanded its operations internationally by opening stores in Mexico.
1992: Sam Walton's death and changing charitable donations
After Sam Walton's death in 1992, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation dramatically increased charitable giving.
1992: Don Soderquist: Keeper of the Culture
Following Sam Walton's death in 1992, Don Soderquist, then Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice Chairman, became known as the "Keeper of the Culture".
1992: Hillary Clinton Leaves Walmart Board
In 1992, Hillary Clinton left Walmart's Board of Directors before the U.S. presidential election.
1993: Sam's Choice Becomes Popular
By 1993, Sam's Choice quickly gained popularity and became the third-most-popular beverage brand in the United States.
1993: Walmart stops selling handguns
In 1993, Walmart stopped selling handguns in all U.S. states, except for Alaska, marking a change in the company's firearms sales policy.
1994: Expansion into Canada
In 1994, Walmart continued its international expansion by opening stores in Canada.
1995: Presence in All U.S. States
By 1995, Walmart had expanded its presence to all U.S. states, with Vermont being the last state to get a store.
1995: Start of McKinsey Study Period
In 1995, the start of the period that was studied by McKinsey Global Institute to understand the impact of Walmart on U.S. labor productivity growth in general merchandise, which concluded in 2000.
1995: Walmart Argentina was founded
Walmart Argentina was founded in 1995 and operates stores under the banners Walmart Supercenter, Changomas, Mi Changomas, and Punto Mayorista.
1997: Small towns lose retail trade
In 1997, Kenneth Stone found that some small towns can lose almost half of their retail trade within ten years of a Walmart store opening.
1997: Walmart entered Indonesia through a joint venture with Lippo Group
In 1997, 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.
1997: Walmart Enters German Market
In 1997, Walmart entered the German market but captured only 2 percent of the food market, remaining a secondary player.
1997: Walmart took over supermarket chain Wertkauf
In 1997, Walmart took over supermarket chain Wertkauf with its 21 stores for DM750 million.
1997: Added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average
In 1997, Walmart was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, recognizing its significance in the U.S. economy.
1998: Employment study
A net increase in employment (55 jobs) was found in a study of West Virginia counties between 1989 and 1998.
1998: Walmart Enters South Korean Market
In 1998, Walmart entered the South Korean Market.
1998: Introduction of Neighborhood Market Concept
In 1998, Walmart introduced the Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas, expanding its retail formats.
1998: Surpasses Toys "R" Us in Toy Sales
In 1998, Walmart's superstores allowed the company to surpass Toys "R" Us in toy sales, becoming a leading retailer in the toy market.
July 1999: European Expansion with Asda Acquisition
In July 1999, Walmart expanded into Europe by acquiring Asda in the United Kingdom for US$10 billion.
2000: Growth Strategy
Between 1980 and 2000, Walmart's success was attributed to its contiguous pattern of expansion, building distribution centers in a hub and spoke framework.
2000: Walmart's Entry Lowers Food Prices
Between 2000, Walmart's entry into new areas often lowered local food prices at other stores.
2000: H. Lee Scott Becomes President and CEO
In 2000, H. Lee Scott became Walmart's president and CEO, with the company's sales increasing to $165 billion.
2000: End of McKinsey Study Period
In 2000, the end of the period that was studied by McKinsey Global Institute to understand the impact of Walmart on U.S. labor productivity growth in general merchandise.
2000: Lee Scott Becomes CEO
In 2000, when Lee Scott took over as CEO of the company, Walmart began aggressive cost-cutting decisions that would lead to a significant increase in crime in stores as reported in 2016.
2000: Walmart Is A Leading Corporation
Walmart is a leading corporation according to the Forbes Global list.
2001: Trade deficit with China
Between 2001 and 2006 Wal-Mart's trade deficit with China alone represented a loss of nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs.
2001: McKinsey Study on Walmart's Productivity Impact
In 2001, a McKinsey Global Institute study found that Walmart directly and indirectly caused a significant portion of U.S. labor productivity growth in general merchandise between 1995 and 2000.
2001: Consultant Report on Gender Disparity in Wal-Mart's Workforce
In 2001, a consultant reported that Wal-Mart's EEOC filings showed a gender disparity, with women making up 65% of hourly paid workers but only 33% of management.
2002: America's Largest Corporation
In 2002, Walmart was listed as America's largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list for the first time, with revenues of $219.8 billion and profits of $6.7 billion.
2002: HRC's Corporate Equality Index Score for Wal-Mart
In 2002, the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index gave Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a score of 14%.
2003: Tom Coughlin Joins Walmart Board
In 2003, Tom Coughlin became the Vice Chairman and joined Walmart's Board.
2003: Walmart Adds Sexual Orientation to Anti-Discrimination Policy
In 2003, Walmart added sexual orientation to their anti-discrimination policy.
2004: Increased poverty in U.S. counties with Walmart stores
A 2004 paper suggested that U.S. counties with Walmart stores suffered increased poverty compared with counties without Wal-Marts.
2004: Walmart Shoppers and Political Preference
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.
2004: Tom Coughlin Still On Walmart Board
In 2004, Tom Coughlin was still on the Walmart Board.
2004: Walmart bought Bompreço supermarket chain in Brazil
In 2004, Walmart acquired the 118 stores comprising the Bompreço supermarket chain in northeastern Brazil.
2004: Walmart Tests "Pennies-n-Cents"
In 2004, Walmart tested its own dollar store concept called "Pennies-n-Cents," creating a subsection within some of its stores.
2004: Bribe paid to change zoning map for Walmart store near historical site
In 2004, evidence suggested that a bribe of US$52,000 was paid to change a zoning map, enabling the opening of a Walmart store near a historical site in San Juan Teotihuacán.
2004: Walmart Tests Site-To-Store Program
Since 2004 Walmart has been testing the Site-To-Store program on a limited basis.
2004: Savings Estimate
Since 2004, consumer savings from Walmart's price level reductions was estimated at $2,329.
September 2005: Alleged bribery by Walmart de Mexico
In September 2005, allegations arose that Walmart de Mexico paid bribes through local fixers to Mexican officials for construction permits and other favors, granting a competitive advantage.
September 2005: Response to Hurricane Katrina
In September 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, Walmart used its logistics network to provide a rapid response, donating $20 million and 1,500 truckloads of merchandise.
November 2005: Environmental Measures Announced
In November 2005, Walmart announced several environmental measures to increase energy efficiency and improve its environmental record.
December 2005: Tom Coughlin Leaves Walmart After Guilty Plea
In December 2005, Tom Coughlin left Walmart after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company.
2005: Walmart discounts boost welfare
A 2005 story reported that "Wal-Mart's discounting on food alone boosts the welfare of American shoppers by at least US$50 billion per year."
2005: Control of Retail Grocery and Consumables Business
By 2005, Walmart controlled an estimated 20 percent of the retail grocery and consumables business, solidifying its market dominance.
2005: Hurricane Katrina relief
In 2005, Walmart donated US$20 million in cash and merchandise for Hurricane Katrina relief.
2005: Global Presence
In 2005, Walmart reported US$312.4 billion in sales, with more than 6,200 facilities around the world, including 3,800 stores in the United States and 2,800 elsewhere.
2005: Walmart Defines Family to Include Same-Sex Partners
In 2005, Walmart's definition of family began including same-sex partners.
2005: Walmart took control of Sonae Distribution Group's Brazilian operations
In late 2005, Walmart gained control of Sonae Distribution Group's Brazilian operations through WMS Supermercados do Brasil, acquiring the Nacional and Mercadorama supermarket chains.
May 2006: Walmart Sells South Korean Outlets
In May 2006, Walmart sold all 16 of its South Korean outlets to Shinsegae, a local retailer, for US$882 million.
July 2006: Walmart withdrew from Germany
In July 2006, Walmart announced its withdrawal from Germany due to sustained losses, selling its stores to Metro.
November 2006: Walmart joint venture with Bharti Enterprises in India
In November 2006, Walmart announced a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises to operate in India, managing wholesale business through franchises due to foreign corporation restrictions in the retail sector.
2006: Study on Walmart's Private Label Awareness
A 2006 study highlighted "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".
2006: Loss of U.S. jobs due to trade deficit with China
Between 2001 and 2006 Wal-Mart's trade deficit with China alone represented a loss of nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs.
2006: Impact on retailers in Mississippi
In 2006, Artz and Stone 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%).
2006: Publication of "The Wal-Mart Effect"
In 2006, Charles Fishman published "The Wal-Mart Effect," examining Walmart's supply chain and its upstream effects.
2006: Consumer Savings
In 2006, Global Insight's research indicated that Walmart's price reductions resulted in consumer savings of $287 billion.
2006: Modification in U.S. stores
In 2006, Walmart announced a change in its U.S. stores, moving from a "one-size-fits-all" merchandising strategy to one designed to cater to six demographic groups. Also in 2006, Walmart unveiled a new slogan: "Saving people money so they can live better lives".
2006: Walmart Announces Diversity Efforts
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.
2006: Walmart Eliminates Layaway Program
In 2006, Walmart eliminated its layaway program.
2006: Asda accounted for 42.7% of 2006 Walmart international sales
In 2006, Walmart's UK subsidiary Asda accounted for 42.7 percent of Walmart's international division sales.
2006: Fortune 500 Ranking Update
In 2006, Walmart's ranking on the Fortune 500 list changed, though specific details are not provided in the text.
2006: Walmart saves shoppers more than US$200 billion a year
In 2006, it was stated that "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)".
2006: Frequent Walmart Shoppers Most Conservative
When measured against similar retailers in the U.S. in 2006, frequent Walmart shoppers were rated the most politically conservative.
June 2007: Walmart Discontinues Blue Vests
In June 2007, Walmart discontinued the signature blue vests for associates, replacing them with khaki pants and polo shirts as part of a corporate overhaul to boost sales.
September 12, 2007: New Advertising Slogan Introduced
On September 12, 2007, Walmart introduced a new advertising slogan, "Save money. Live better.", replacing the previous slogan "Always Low Prices, Always".
2007: Walmart Introduces Site-To-Store Program
In 2007, Walmart officially introduced its Site-To-Store program, allowing customers to purchase goods online and pick them up at a local store with free shipping.
2007: Environmental Impact Assessment
In 2007, Walmart worked with outside consultants to assess its total environmental impact and find areas for improvement.
2007: Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Lawsuit Filed
In 2007, a gender discrimination lawsuit, Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., was filed against Walmart, alleging discrimination against female employees in pay and promotions.
June 30, 2008: Logo Change
On June 30, 2008, Walmart removed the hyphen from its logo and replaced the star with a Spark symbol, changing the store branding to "Walmart".
July 1, 2008: New Logo Debut
On July 1, 2008, Walmart's new logo made its debut on the company's website.
2008: Creative destruction unleashed by Wal‐Mart
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".
2008: Walmart owned 100 percent of Seiyu
As of 2008, Walmart had full ownership of Seiyu (西友 Seiyū) in Japan, operating under various banners.
2008: Walmart Membership in National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Ends
From 2006 to 2008, Walmart was a member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; its membership ended in 2008.
January 31, 2009: Walmart Reports Solid Financial Figures
Walmart reported solid financial figures for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009, including $401.2 billion in net sales, a 7.2 percent increase from the previous year.
March 20, 2009: Walmart Announces Bonuses for Hourly Workers
On March 20, 2009, Walmart announced it would pay US$933.6 million in bonuses to all full and part-time hourly workers, in addition to other contributions.
May 30, 2009: First Best Price Modern Wholesale store opened in Amritsar
On May 30, 2009, the first Best Price Modern Wholesale store, under the Walmart-Bharti Enterprises partnership, opened in Amritsar, India.
2009: Walmart Launches Marketplace
In 2009, Walmart launched its Marketplace platform.
2009: Fortune 500 Ranking Update
In 2009, Walmart's ranking on the Fortune 500 list changed, though specific details are not provided in the text.
2009: Logo Adoption in Canada
In early 2009, Walmart Canada started to adopt the new logo for its stores.
February 22, 2010: Walmart Acquires Vudu, Inc.
On February 22, 2010, Walmart confirmed its acquisition of video streaming company Vudu, Inc. for an estimated $100 million.
September 28, 2010: Walmart to buy Massmart Holdings Ltd.
On September 28, 2010, Walmart announced its intention to acquire Massmart Holdings Ltd. of Johannesburg, South Africa, for over US$4 billion, marking its initial entry into the African market.
2010: Impact of new Walmarts
A 2010 study examined the impact of new Walmarts in detail and reported that median sales dropped 40 percent at similar high-volume stores, 17 percent at supermarkets and 6 percent at drugstores.
2010: Walmart third-largest supermarket chain in Brazil
By 2010, Walmart was the third-largest supermarket chain in Brazil, trailing behind Carrefour and Pão de Açúcar, following the acquisitions of Bompreço and Sonae.
2010: Asda acquired stores from Netto UK
In 2010, Asda acquired stores from Netto UK.
2010: Walmart Partners with P&G for Product Placement in Movies
In 2010, Walmart collaborated with Procter & Gamble to produce movies like "Secrets of the Mountain" and "The Jensen Project," which featured characters using products from Walmart and Procter & Gamble. "The Jensen Project" also previewed a product to be launched in Walmart stores later.
2010: Walmart Still Doesn't Have Layaway Program
In 2010, the layaway program was still discontinued at Walmart.
2010: Walmart Lowers Food Prices
Until 2010, Walmart's entry into new areas often lowered local food prices at other stores.
April 2011: Walmart acquires Kosmix
In April 2011, Walmart acquired Kosmix with the intent to develop software that could analyze real-time data streams.
June 20, 2011: Supreme Court Rules in Wal-Mart's Favor in Dukes v. Wal-Mart
On June 20, 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wal-Mart's favor in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., stating that the plaintiffs did not have enough in common to constitute a class.
2011: Increase in Supercenters
Between 2011 and 2020 California and New Jersey were two of the ten states with the largest increases in Supercenters.
2011: Walmart Adds Gender Identity to Anti-Discrimination Policy
In 2011, Walmart added gender identity to their anti-discrimination policy.
2011: Walmart Revives Layaway Program
In 2011, Walmart revived its layaway program.
February 2012: Walmart increased its stake in Yihaodian
In February 2012, Walmart announced that the company raised its stake to 51 percent in Chinese online supermarket Yihaodian.
April 2012: The New York Times reported allegations of bribery by Walmart de Mexico
In April 2012, The New York Times reported on allegations from a former executive of Walmart de Mexico, detailing bribery of Mexican officials for construction permits and information.
June 2012: Walmart visa workers protest against CJ's Seafood
In June 2012, visa workers held a protest and day-long hunger strike outside of the apartment building where a Walmart board member resided because of the mistreatment of CJ's Seafood. Following this protest, Walmart announced its final decision to no longer work with CJ's Seafood.
August 2012: Walmart announces its Polaris search engine
In August 2012, Walmart announced the development of its Polaris search engine.
September 14, 2012: Government of India approved 51% FDI in multi-brand retails
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.
September 20, 2012: Government of India approved 51% FDI in multi-brand retails
On September 20, 2012, the Government of India's approval of 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retails became effective, subject to approval by individual states.
November 14, 2012: Walmart Launches Goodies Mail Subscription Service
On November 14, 2012, Walmart launched its first mail subscription service called Goodies, charging customers $7 monthly for delivered food samples.
November 2012: Walmart admitted to lobbying in India
In November 2012, Walmart admitted to spending US$25 million lobbying the Indian National Congress, prompting an internal investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
December 17, 2012: The New York Times revealed evidence of bribery for Walmart store permissions
On December 17, 2012, a follow-up investigation by The New York Times revealed evidence that regulatory permission for siting, construction, and operation of nineteen Walmart stores had been obtained through bribery.
2012: Impacts of Walmart in Chicago
In 2012, David Merriman, Joseph Persky, Julie Davis and Ron Baiman outlined the impacts of Walmart in Chicago.
2012: Fortune 500 Ranking Update
In 2012, Walmart's ranking on the Fortune 500 list changed, though specific details are not provided in the text.
2012: Walmart Pork and Mango Supply Chain Contamination
In 2012, Walmart’s pork and mango supply chain was contaminated, resulting in a large number of customers suffering from severe food poisoning; the company recalled all contaminated products to resolve the incident.
August 2013: Walmart in Talks to Acquire Naivas
In August 2013, Walmart announced it was in talks to acquire a majority stake in the Kenya-based supermarket chain, Naivas.
October 2013: Bharti and Walmart separated
In October 2013, Bharti and Walmart separated their partnership in India to pursue business independently.
November 2013: NLRB Finds Wal-Mart Pressured Employees
In November 2013, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Wal-Mart pressured employees in 13 U.S. states not to strike on Black Friday and illegally disciplined workers who did strike.
2013: Wal-Marts most strongly affect outlets
Ellickson & Grieco report in 2013 that Wal-Marts most strongly affect outlets of larger chains that are within 2 miles (3.2 km) of their location.
2013: Walmart Offers Health Insurance Benefits to Domestic Partners
In 2013, Walmart began offering health insurance benefits to domestic partners.
January 2014: Walmart operated various stores in Brazil
As of January 2014, Walmart operated 61 Bompreço supermarkets, 39 Hiper Bompreço stores, 57 Walmart Supercenters, 27 Sam's Clubs, and 174 Todo Dia stores in Brazil.
February 1, 2014: Doug McMillon Became Walmart's CEO
On February 1, 2014, Doug McMillon took office as Walmart's CEO. McMillon previously held positions as the head of Sam's Club and Walmart International.
February 2014: Walmart Foundation pledge
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.
June 2014: Walmart Employees Strike for Higher Wages
In June 2014, some Walmart employees went on strike in major U.S. cities, demanding higher wages.
July 2014: Tracy Morgan Sues Walmart After Multi-Car Pile-Up
In July 2014, Tracy Morgan launched a lawsuit against Walmart seeking punitive damages over a multi-car pile-up allegedly caused by a Walmart driver.
September 2014: Walmart Reintroduces Vests
In September 2014, Walmart updated its uniform policy by bringing back vests for store employees, worn over polos and khaki or black pants.
2014: Walmart Shoppers Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage
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.
2014: Jet.com Founded
In 2014, Marc Lore founded e-commerce company Jet.com, which would later be acquired by Walmart.
July 2015: Asda updated its logo
In July 2015, Asda updated its logo, incorporating the Walmart Asterisks behind the first 'A'.
July 2015: Walmart took full ownership in Yihaodian
In July 2015, Walmart took full ownership in Chinese online supermarket Yihaodian.
2015: Walmart CEO Opposes House Bill 1228
In 2015, Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, issued a statement opposing House Bill 1228 and asked Governor Asa Hutchinson to veto the bill.
2015: Walmart Begins Company-Wide Campaign to Reduce Crime
In 2015, under CEO Doug McMillon, Walmart began a company-wide campaign to reduce crime, including spot-checking receipts and using data analytics.
January 15, 2016: Walmart Announces Store Closures
On January 15, 2016, Walmart announced it would close 269 stores globally, affecting 16,000 workers.
March 2016: Jet.com Acquires Hayneedle
In March 2016, Jet.com acquired Hayneedle.
April 2016: Walmart Announces Plan to Eliminate Eggs from Battery Cages
In April 2016, Walmart announced its plan to eliminate eggs from battery cages from its supply chain by 2025.
August 8, 2016: Walmart to Acquire Jet.com
On August 8, 2016, Walmart announced a deal to acquire e-commerce website Jet.com for US$3.3 billion.
August 2016: Bloomberg Report on Cost-Cutting Decisions and Crime Increase
According to an August 2016 report by Bloomberg Businessweek, Walmart's aggressive cost-cutting decisions, starting in 2000, led to a significant increase in crime in stores.
October 3, 2016: Walmart Labs statement on applications
On October 3, 2016, Alex Grigoryan of Walmart Labs released a statement on Medium.com, explaining the details of the applications and the scale that they operate at Walmart.
October 2016: Walmart launched the Food Safety Collaboration Center in Beijing, China
In October 2016, Walmart launched the Food Safety Collaboration Center in Beijing, China, to collaborate with the local government, promote blockchain technology for tracking pork supply, and enhance food supply chain transparency and safety.
October 19, 2016: Walmart Partners with IBM and Tsinghua University to Track Pork Supply Chain Using Blockchain
On October 19, 2016, Walmart announced its partnership with IBM and Tsinghua University to track the pork supply chain in China using blockchain technology.
November 2016: Walmart Labs open-source projects
As of November 2016, Walmart has 141 public GitHub projects listed, with many Walmart technology projects coded in the open and available through the Walmart Labs GitHub repository as open-source software under the OSI approved Apache V2.0 license.
December 2016: Jet.com Acquires Shoebuy.com
In December 2016, Jet.com acquired Shoebuy.com.
2016: Walmart Offers Full Healthcare Benefits to Transgender Employees
In 2016, Walmart began offering full healthcare benefits to its transgender employees.
2016: Walmart automates cash handling process
In 2016, Walmart initiated a project to automate much of the cash handling process, replacing employees counting currency by hand with machines.
2016: Yellow Vests for Specific Roles
In 2016, Walmart introduced yellow vests for self-checkout associates, door greeters, and customer service managers to enhance visibility for customers.
2016: Violent Crimes at Walmart
In 2016, more than 200 violent crimes occurred at the 4,500 Walmarts in the U.S.
February 13, 2017: Walmart Closes Acquisition of Moosejaw
On February 13, 2017, Walmart closed acquisition of Moosejaw, a leading online active outdoor retailer, for approximately $51 million.
February 15, 2017: Walmart Announces Acquisition of Moosejaw
On February 15, 2017, Walmart announced the acquisition of Moosejaw, a leading online active outdoor retailer, for approximately $51 million.
March 2017: Jet.com Acquires ModCloth
In March 2017, Jet.com acquired ModCloth.
March 2017: Walmart Shares Outstanding
As of March 2017, Walmart Inc. had 3,292,377,090 outstanding shares, primarily held by the Walton family, institutions, and funds.
June 16, 2017: Walmart to Acquire Bonobos
On June 16, 2017, Walmart agreed to acquire the men's apparel company Bonobos for $310 million.
September 15, 2017: Walmart Announces New Headquarters
On September 15, 2017, Walmart announced plans to construct a new headquarters in Bentonville to replace the existing 1971 building.
September 29, 2017: Walmart Acquires Parcel
On September 29, 2017, Walmart acquired Parcel, a same-day and last-mile delivery company in Brooklyn.
December 6, 2017: Walmart Announces Corporate Name Change
On December 6, 2017, Walmart announced it would change its corporate name to Walmart Inc. from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
2017: Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund gave grants
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.
2017: HRC's Corporate Equality Index Score for Wal-Mart Improves
By 2017, the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index gave Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a score of 100%.
2017: Death of Betty Dukes
In 2017, Betty Dukes, the lead plaintiff in the gender discrimination lawsuit Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., died.
2017: Walmart Enhances Digital Expansion
In 2017, Walmart U.S. e-commerce CEO Marc Lore, highlighted how Walmart's physical stores would support digital expansion. As of 2017, in-store pickup for online orders was available at 1,000 stores with plans for further expansion.
January 11, 2018: Walmart Announces Sam's Club Closures and Employee Benefits Changes
On January 11, 2018, Walmart announced the closure of 63 Sam's Club locations, as well as raising Walmart starting wages, distributing bonuses, expanding leave policies, and contributing to employee adoptions due to the new tax law.
March 2018: Lawsuit Filed Against Walmart for Misleading E-Commerce Results
In March 2018, Walmart was sued by former Director of Business Development Tri Huynh for claims of reporting misleading e-commerce performance results.
May 9, 2018: Walmart announced intent to acquire majority stake in Flipkart
On May 9, 2018, Walmart announced its intent to acquire a 77% majority stake in the Indian e-commerce company Flipkart for $16 billion.
May 2018: Walmart announced plans to sell Asda to Sainsbury's
In May 2018, Walmart announced intentions to sell Asda to Sainsbury's for $10.1 billion, retaining a 42% stake in the combined company and £3 billion in cash.
May 17, 2018: Wal-Mart Canada Bank sold to First National co-founder Stephen Smith and Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
On May 17, 2018, Wal-Mart Canada announced an agreement to sell Wal-Mart Canada Bank to First National co-founder Stephen Smith and private equity firm Centerbridge Partners, L.P., retaining the Walmart (Canada) Rewards MasterCard issuance.
August 2018: Walmart Inc. held minority stake in Walmart Brasil
Since August 2018, Walmart Inc. only holds a minority stake in Walmart Brasil, which was renamed Grupo Big.
August 18, 2018: Walmart completed acquisition of Flipkart
On August 18, 2018, Walmart finalized its acquisition of a 77% majority stake in Flipkart for $16 billion.
September 2018: EEOC Sues Walmart for Denying Requests from Pregnant Employees
In September 2018, Walmart was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for allegedly denying requests from pregnant employees to limit heavy lifting.
2018: Walmart restricts gun sales
In 2018, Walmart stopped selling guns and ammunition to individuals younger than 21. Also in 2018, the company ceased selling military-style rifles commonly used in mass shootings.
January 31, 2019: Walmart Fiscal Year End Report
For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2019, Walmart reported a net income of US$6.6 billion on $514 billion of revenue.
February 26, 2019: Walmart Acquires Aspectiva
On February 26, 2019, Walmart announced that it had acquired Tel Aviv-based product review start-up Aspectiva for an undisclosed sum.
March 2019: Walmart Rebrands Associate Education Benefits to Live Better U
In March 2019, Walmart rebranded its Associate Education Benefits to Live Better U, supporting associate education at every level, including a $1-a-day college program.
April 1, 2019: Acquisition of Wal-Mart Canada Bank closed and renamed Duo Bank of Canada
On April 1, 2019, Centerbridge Partners, L.P. and Stephen Smith announced the closing of the Wal-Mart Canada Bank acquisition, renaming it Duo Bank of Canada, and reclassifying it as a Schedule 1 bank under the Bank Act in Canada.
April 2019: Walmart Plans to Expand Robot Use in Stores
In April 2019, Walmart Inc. announced plans to extend the use of robots in stores to improve inventory management, cleaning, and truck unloading to lower labor costs.
April 2019: United Kingdom blocked the sale of Asda to Sainsbury's
In April 2019, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority blocked the proposed sale of Asda to Sainsburys.
April 16, 2019: Partnership with Kidbox Announced
On April 16, 2019, Walmart announced its partnership with the subscription service Kidbox.
May 2019: Walmart Launches Free One-Day Shipping
In May 2019, Walmart announced the launch of free one-day shipping on over 220,000 items with a minimum purchase of $35.
May 2019: Center for Inquiry Files Lawsuit Against Walmart
In May 2019, the Center for Inquiry filed a lawsuit against Walmart alleging consumer fraud and endangering customers' health due to selling homeopathic products alongside real medicine.
June 2019: Walmart Expands Education Benefits to Recruit High School Students
In June 2019, Walmart Inc. announced the expansion of education benefits to recruit high school students, including flexible work schedules and free college credit.
July 2019: Pro-Union Memes Flood Walmart Subreddit
In July 2019, the Walmart subreddit was flooded with pro-union memes in protest to the firing of an employee, highlighting Walmart's alleged anti-union position.
August 12, 2019: Walmart Brasil renamed Grupo Big
On August 12, 2019, Walmart Brasil was renamed Grupo Big, with Walmart Inc. holding a 20% minority stake and Advent International owning 80%.
September 2019: Walmart to Cease Sale of E-Cigarettes
In September 2019, Walmart announced it would cease the sale of all e-cigarettes due to regulatory complexity and uncertainty, also opening its first Health Center, a "medical mall".
October 2019: Walmart Stops Selling Live Fish and Aquatic Plants
In October 2019, Walmart stopped selling all live fish and aquatic plants.
2019: Mass Shooting at El Paso Walmart
In 2019, 23 people were killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.
2019: Walmart further restricts firearm sales
In 2019, following a mass shooting at an El Paso store, Walmart announced it would stop selling all handgun ammunition and certain short-barreled rifle ammunition. In 2019, the company also stopped selling handguns in Alaska and requested customers not openly carry weapons in Walmart stores.
2019: Sam's Club Revenue
In fiscal year 2019, Sam's Club accounted for 11.3% of Walmart's revenue, generating $57.839 billion.
May 19, 2020: Walmart Shut Down Jet.com
On May 19, 2020, Walmart announced the shutdown of Jet.com, redirecting visitors to the Walmart website.
May 20, 2020: Dismissal of CFI's Lawsuit Against Walmart
On May 20, 2020, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Florence Pan dismissed the Center for Inquiry's lawsuit against Walmart.
June 27, 2020: Shooting at Red Bluff Walmart Distribution Center
On June 27, 2020, a shooting occurred at a Walmart distribution center in Red Bluff, California, resulting in one employee's death.
July 2020: Walmart Mandates Masks in All Stores
Starting in July 2020, Walmart required customers to wear masks in all stores nationwide, including Sam's Club, as a COVID-19 safety measure.
October 2, 2020: Walmart to sell a majority stake of Asda to a consortium
On October 2, 2020, Walmart announced it would sell a majority stake of Asda to a consortium of Zuber and Mohsin Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital for £6.8bn, pending approval.
October 2020: Temporary removal of firearms and ammunition displays
In October 2020, following the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., Walmart temporarily removed gun and ammunition displays in thousands of stores across the U.S. due to concerns of civil unrest.
November 6, 2020: Walmart sold its Argentine operations to Grupo de Narváez
On November 6, 2020, Walmart sold its Argentine operations to Grupo de Narváez, renaming them Hiper Changomas.
November 16, 2020: Walmart announced the selling of shares in Seiyu to KKR
On November 16, 2020, Walmart announced that it would be selling 65% of its shares in Seiyu to KKR, retaining 15% and a board seat.
December 2020: Walmart Launches Carrier Pickup Service
In December 2020, Walmart launched a new service, Carrier Pickup, to allow customers to schedule returns.
2020: Walmart's Workforce Size
As of 2020, Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, with 1.6 million employees. Also in 2020, 4.6% of all retail workers, and 16.5% of all U.S. grocery workers, were unionized, but Walmart does not employ unionized labor and actively discourages unionization and collective bargaining.
2020: Increase in Supercenters
Between 2011 and 2020 California and New Jersey were two of the ten states with the largest increases in Supercenters.
2020: Two-thirds of merchandise made in the United States
For the 2020 fiscal year, Walmart reported that nearly two-thirds of its merchandise was made, assembled or grown in the United States.
2020: Walmart Settles EEOC Sex-Based Hiring Discrimination Lawsuit
In 2020, Walmart agreed to pay $20 million and furnish other relief to settle a companywide, sex-based hiring discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
2020: COVID-19 pandemic response
In 2020, Walmart committed $25 million to organizations on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
2020: Walmart Contributions to Rule of Law Defense Fund
In 2020, Walmart contributed $140,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fundraising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association.
2020: Walmart's Sales Increase During COVID-19
In 2020, Walmart's net sales increased by 10.5% and online sales rose by 74% as consumers shifted to eating at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Walmart
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced temporary measures at Walmart, including store closures, limited occupancy, and enforcement of social distancing.
January 2021: Walmart to administer vaccines
As of January 2021, healthcare workers could get vaccines through Walmart in New Mexico and Arkansas, with plans to expand to other states.
January 2021: Walmart Announces Fintech Startup
In January 2021, Walmart announced it would launch a fintech startup with Ribbit Capital to provide financial products for consumers and employees.
February 2021: Walmart Acquires Technology from Thunder Industries
In February 2021, Walmart acquired technology from Thunder Industries to enhance its online marketing capabilities through automation.
March 2021: Pledge to buy American-based items
As of March 2021, Walmart pledged to buy an additional $350 billion worth of American-based items over the next decade.
March 24, 2021: Carrefour to acquire Grupo Big
On March 24, 2021, it was announced that Carrefour would be acquiring Grupo Big.
May 2021: Walmart Acquires Zeekit
In May 2021, Walmart acquired the Israeli startup Zeekit for $200 million, using AI for virtual clothing try-ons.
May 2021: Mask policy change
In May 2021, Walmart announced that starting from May 18 all its fully vaccinated employees could stop wearing masks at work.
August 2021: Walmart Opens Spark Delivery to Other Businesses
In August 2021, Walmart announced it would offer its Spark crowdsource delivery service to other businesses as a white-label service.
November 2021: Walmart Found to Have Contributed to Opioid Crisis
In November 2021, a federal jury found that Walmart, along with Walgreens and CVS, had substantially contributed to the opioid crisis.
December 2021: Walmart Participates in Investment Conferences
In December 2021, Walmart announced its participation in the Stephens Investment Conference and the Morgan Stanley Virtual Global Consumer & Retail Conference.
December 2021: Walmart warned about removing Xinjiang products
In December 2021, the Chinese Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection cautioned Walmart against removing products sourced from Xinjiang in response to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
February 2022: Walmart Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions
By February 2022, Walmart lifted COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask requirements and certain employee benefits.
June 2022: Walmart to Acquire Memomi
In June 2022, Walmart announced it would be acquiring Memomi, an AR optical tech company.
June 2022: FTC Sues Walmart for Facilitating Money Transfer Fraud
In June 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Walmart, alleging that the company facilitated money transfer fraud.
August 2022: Walmart to Acquire Volt Systems and Partners with Paramount
In August 2022, Walmart announced it would acquire Volt Systems and partnered with Paramount to offer Paramount+ content to its Walmart+ subscribers.
August 2022: Walmart Locations Not Returning to 24-Hour Service
In August 2022, Walmart announced that locations were not going back to 24 hours with most stores now being open between 6am and 11pm.
October 2022: World's Largest Company by Revenue
In October 2022, Walmart was recognized as the world's largest company by revenue according to the Fortune Global 500 list.
October 31, 2022: Walmart's Global Presence
As of October 31, 2022, Walmart operates 10,586 stores and clubs across 24 countries under 46 different names and is the world's largest company by revenue and the largest private employer.
2022: Impact of Walmart on local employment
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.
2022: Average Walmart Customer Income
As of 2022, the average U.S. Walmart customer earned about $80,000 per year, exceeding the U.S. average personal income of $63,214.
January 2023: Walmart to Raise Minimum Wage
In January 2023, Walmart announced it would raise its minimum wage for U.S. hourly workers from $12 to $14 an hour.
February 2023: Walmart Announces Increase in Sales and Profits
In February 2023, Walmart announced that they had made $611.3 billion in sales in the previous financial year, up 6.7%, with almost double the profits from the previous year.
March 2023: Walmart Raises Minimum Wage
In March 2023, Walmart raised its minimum wage for U.S. hourly workers from $12 to $14 an hour.
April 2023: Walmart to Add Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
In April 2023, Walmart announced it would add electric vehicle charging stations at thousands of stores by 2030.
January 2024: Walmart Announces Expansion Plans
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.
February 2024: Project Gigaton Initiative Reaches Goal Early
In February 2024, Walmart announced that its "Project Gigaton" initiative, which started in 2017 with the aim of reducing Scope 3 emissions from suppliers by 1 billion metric tons by 2030, had already reached its goal six years ahead of schedule. Additionally, 75% of Walmart's net sales in fiscal year 2023 came from suppliers participating in the initiative.
February 2024: Walmart Announces Stock Grants and Stock Split
In February 2024, Walmart announced that managers will be given stock grants of up to $20,000. Walmart also announced a 3-1 stock split to make it easier for employees to buy company stock. The company is also raising the starting base salary for store managers and increasing the bonus plan of up to 200% of their regular salaries.
August 27, 2024: Walmart Announces New Service to Transport Goods from Asia to U.S.
On August 27, 2024, Walmart announced a new service to transport goods from Asia to the U.S., aiming to compete more effectively with Amazon.
November 25, 2024: Walmart Ends DEI Programs and Delists Transgender Products
On November 25, 2024, Walmart announced the end of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Additionally, they delisted products designed for transgender minors, such as breast binders.
2024: Walmart Plans to Remove Self Checkouts
In 2024, Walmart reported plans to remove self-checkout lanes from some stores due to customer feedback.
January 2025: Walmart Redesigns Logo
In January 2025, Walmart redesigned its logo for the first time since 2008. The updated logo featured a slightly larger wordmark, a darker blue background, and a slightly bigger spark.
2025: Walmart Consolidates U.S. Offices
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.
2025: Target Date for Eliminating Eggs from Battery Cages
In 2025, Walmart plans to have eliminated eggs from battery cages from its supply chain.
