Content about Bentonville

June 10, 2013
Tom Cruise makes surprise appearance at Wal-Mart annual meeting

Wal-Mart Stores held its annual shareholders meeting on Friday morning and the most noteworthy development at the event — aside from a $15 billion share repurchase authorization — was a surprise appearance and glowing comments by Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise.

June 4, 2013
Wal-Mart launches fresh produce initiative

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart is launching an initiative to increase the amount of fresh produce on its shelves. The effort includes buying produce directly from growers for immediate shipment to stores, performing independent weekly fresh produce checks at stores and providing fresh produce training for associates.

May 20, 2013
Wal-Mart goes solar

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has installed eight solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays in Massachusetts.

May 16, 2013
Wal-Mart’s Q1 sales, profit disappoints; issues tepid Q2 outlook

Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday reported profit and sales that were just below Wall Street expectations as the giant retailer struggled with a number of issues that impacted its U.S. sales, from the payroll tax increase to an unseasonably cold spring to delayed tax returns.

May 6, 2013
Walmart launches ‘Real Walmart’ ad campaign

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Monday that it has launched a new TV and digital ad campaign designed to demonstrate what the retailer describes as “The Real Walmart.”

April 22, 2013
Walmart exceeds $1 billion in philanthropic giving
For the first time in the retailer’s history, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said that, through Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, it has given more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions.
April 16, 2013
Walmart unveils sustainable commitments in global meeting

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.

April 1, 2013
Walmart announces gasoline discount program

Walmart is easing the pain at the pump by offering customers who use a Walmart MoneyCard or Walmart Credit Card a 15 cents per gallon reduction on their fuel purchase.

January 22, 2013
Wal-Mart issues ‘zero tolerance’ policy for global suppliers

Wal-Mart Stores is tightening the reins on its global suppliers.

December 27, 2012
Retail’s Power Players

Some are merchants, with long careers in brick-and-mortar stores. Others are tech trailblazers, using new media to match merchandise and buyers. Others are influencing retail in less direct, but no less significant, ways. All share an ability to create new opportunities and, in their own way, are looking to reinvent the shopping experience. And all wield a great deal of influence in today’s complex retail landscape.

November 26, 2012
Walmart U.S. reports ‘best-ever Black Friday events’

Walmart U.S. reported that its Black Friday events were its “best ever,” and followed on the heels of what U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon described as an “impressive Thursday,” on which 22 million customers shopped U.S. Walmart stores.

November 14, 2012
Wal-Mart launches food subscription service called Goodies

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced it will officially launch its previously announced food-by-mail subscription service, called Goodies, which allows customers to trial sample-sized foods for a monthly fee.

October 30, 2012
Wal-Mart: No significant damage from Sandy

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. released a statement on Tuesday that none of its facilities have sustained any significant damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Some 168 stores remain closed, said the retailer, but some will be reopening with the use of generators.

The company also said that the superstorm has not had an impact on holiday planning at this point.

October 26, 2012
Wal-Mart completes deal with Chinese e-commerce company

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced the completion of its increased investment in Yihaodian, a fast-growing Chinese e-commerce company.

September 19, 2012
Walmart launches healthy foods rewards program

Walmart and HumanaVitality announced a first-of-its-kind program called Vitality HealthyFood, whereby Walmart offers a 5% discount on produce items to HumanaVitality members.

September 4, 2012
Report: Walmart testing iPhone self-checkout app

According to multiple reports, Walmart is testing a new iPhone app that will allow shoppers to scan items using their iPhones and complete their transactions at in-store self-checkout kiosks.

September 4, 2012
Wal-Mart’s new Oregon store to have state’s largest green roof

Wal-Mart Stores said that its new store in Portland, Ore., will feature the state’s largest green roof.

August 30, 2012
Walmart.com using new search engine with semantic search technology; seeing 10% to 15% increase in completed purchases

Walmart announced a new search engine for Walmart.com. The new engine, named Polaris, was developed by a small team within @Wamart Labs, the research and technology hub for innovation at Walmart.

August 14, 2012
Wal-Mart gains approval to proceed with China e-commerce expansion

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. indicated Tuesday it has received the OK from Chinese regulators to move forward with its majority stake in e-commerce company Yihaodian.

June 21, 2012
Walmart at 50

Editor’s note: No one could have predicted that a colossus was in the making when the very first Wal-Mart opened its doors on July 2, 1962, in Rogers, Ark. Billed as the area’s first “quality discount center,” the store promised name brands and 22 departments, from jewelry and hobbies to ladies’ wear and shoes.

June 21, 2012
Web-based cameras keep Walmart’s sustainability projects on track

Sustainability is a top priority for Walmart, and energy efficiency is central to its efforts. One of the chain’s three primary long-term objectives is to use 100% renewable energy. Walmart is actively working to meet that goal with projects that employ a wide range of technologies, from solar power to fuel cells, in development across the country.

May 17, 2012
Wal-Mart beats Street as profit jumps on strong sales

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a better-than-expected 9.2% increase in first-quarter profit on increased sales in the United States and a strong performance abroad.

April 26, 2012
Wal-Mart first-ever retailer to launch online ‘pay with cash’ option

Walmart said it has launched a “Pay with Cash” service that offers cash payment options for online orders at Walmart.com in the United States.

April 25, 2012
Wal-Mart answers with global anti-bribery watchdog appointment

As part of its answer a New York Times article regarding compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Wal-Mart Stores VP corporate communications David Tovar announced that the retailer had appointed a global officer to oversee compliance.

April 25, 2012
Wal-Mart's Castro-Wright resigns MetLife board to focus on ‘protecting good name’

Amidst allegations of involvement in a foreign bribery scandal, Wal-Mart Stores vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright has vacated his seat on the board of life insurer MetLife, according to a Tuesday announcement by Wal-Mart.

© 2013