Walmart

Walmart’s saturation of Northwest Arkansas with its Neighborhood Market format continued this week with the opening of a new location on north Walton Boulevard just a few miles from the retailer’s headquarters.

When Whole Foods Market announced in May that it planned to open a new chain of stores offering a lower price point and specifically targeting millennials, it’s safe to say that the reaction from industry analysts and observers was underwhelming. Responses have ranged from confusion to outright skepticism, and there is a general sense of uncertainty surrounding the whole enterprise.

The retail industry is more competitive than ever, but Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told a gathering of more than 14,000 associates and shareholders that he is more worried about the enemy within the company than competitors.

“The truth is the real villains are lurking within the company,” said McMillon. “Our real villains are things like bureaucracy, complacency, a lack of speed, or a lack of passion.”

New York -- The mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, said Thursday that Walmart stores are not welcome in New York City, Newsday reported. His attitude is much different from his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.

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Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that board chairman Rob Walton is stepping down and will be succeeded by vice chairman Greg Penner, who is Walton's son-in-law. Walton relinquished the position of chairman at the company's annual meeting on June 5.

Rob Walton relinquished the position of chairman of the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to his son-in-law, Greg Penner, at the company annual meeting on June 5.

The move to elevate Penner to the new role didn’t come as huge shock since the stage had been set for the move at Walmart’s annual meeting last year when Walton, 70, announced Penner had been named the board’s vice chairman. Walton has served as chairman of the board since 1992 the same year that his father and company founder Sam Walton died. He will continue to serve on the board.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Speaking at Wal-Mart Stores’ annual shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, president and CEO Doug McMillon told the more than 14,000 assembled associates and shareholders that he is more worried about the enemy within the company than competitors.

“The truth is the real villains are lurking within the company,” said McMillon. “Our real villains are things like bureaucracy, complacency, a lack of speed, or a lack of passion.”

Walmart has unveiled upcoming changes to its website, stores and employee badges ahead of today's shareholders' meeting in Bentonville, Ark.

According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Walmart execs told a meeting of employees on Wednesday that it plans to spend at least $1.5 billion in upgrades to its e-commerce sites, store design and employee name badges.