Content about Walmart

In its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting on Monday, Walmart announced new commitments the retailer says will dramatically increase energy efficiency and renewables, and hasten its path toward being 100% supplied by renewable energy.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke outlined specific goals the company said it intends to achieve by Dec. 31, 2020:

Walmart recognized Central Garden & Pet Co. as the retailer's Outdoor Living Supplier of the Year. In addition, Central won the People Award for Walmart’s Home Division.

Walmart annually recognizes its top suppliers that demonstrate superior customer service. 

Two Chinese-made blower vacuums, one sold at Home Depot and the other sold at Walmart, were recalled because they pose laceration hazards.

Homelite Consumer Products and the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission announced the recall of certain Homelite electric blower vacuums.

Walmart on Tuesday updated its plans for its Canadian division, saying that it plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects in the country during the company’s next fiscal year (Feb. 1, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014). The announcement comes a couple of months before Target Corp.’s spring launch of its stores in Canada.

Speaking at an event in Beijing, Walmart president and CEO, Mike Duke, outlined Walmart's plans to create a more sustainable global supply chain.

"Today I'm proud to announce a series of steps and commitments that will make Walmart's supply chain, in the United States, here in China, and around the world, more sustainable," said Mike Duke, President and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "The impact of these commitments will be global and make a difference with products sold around the globe." 

In its annual meeting with analysts on Wednesday, Wal-Mart Stores U.S. president Bill Simon said the retailer would accelerate small-store growth stores and announced plans to have 500 Neighborhood Market stores and 12 Express stores by fiscal 2016. The latter would measure, on average, 10,000 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft.

“This gives us the opportunity to build more stores for less money," Simon said. Walmart currently operates 217 Neighborhood Markets and 10 Express stores.

Expectations are high that mobile payments represent the future of commerce, and a group of leading retailers this week formed a new organization to offer an alternative way to pay.

The group, Merchant Customer Exchange, will integrate a range of consumer offers, promotions and retail programs available via any smartphone. Participating retailers include Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Sears Holdings Corp. and Target. Additional members are expected to be announced in the coming months.  

The world’s largest retailer is taking steps to display its home improvement prowess through a digital marketing campaign centered on a “Projects Made Simple” area at Walmart.com.

A group of national retailers that includes Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart has joined with trucking companies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the amount of diesel emissions at the nation’s ports.