Walmart

Walmart CFO Charles Holley weighed in on the retailer’s growth priorities earlier this week during a presentation to investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference.

CHM has broken ground on University Commons, billed as the first urban, vertical retail complex in Knoxville, Tenn.

The multi-story urban shopping and dining development, located on the former Fulton Bellows site adjacent to the University of Tennessee, will cover 12+ acres, with 211,000 sq. ft. of retail space and parking.  Anchored by Walmart and Publix, University Commons will add another 40,000 sq. ft. of smaller shop space once the project is completed.

Knoxville, Tenn. -- CHM announced that it has broken ground on Knoxville’s first urban, vertical retail complex, University Commons.

The Publix- and Walmart-anchored shopping and dining center will cover 12+ acres, with 211,000 sq. ft. of retail space and parking. Besides the two anchors, an additional 40,000 sq. ft. will be dedicated to smaller retailers and service providers once the project is completed.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke introduced First Lady Michelle Obama at the Business Roundtable Wednesday with the following remarks:

"We are pleased to be joined by our guest today, First Lady Michelle Obama.  Mrs. Obama speaks movingly about the service, strength, and sacrifice of our current generation of troops, veterans, and military families.  It is a personal privilege to share some of her work and to start our discussion around creating opportunity for this new group of heroes.

NEW YORK — Walmart's EVP corporate affairs, Leslie Dach, is stepping down in June. 

"Leslie has played a pivotal role in helping us understand the broader role Walmart can play in meeting the major challenges facing society today, and social goals are now an integral part of how we run our business," Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke in the memo.

A vocal minority continues to keeps Walmart at bay in New York where reports this week indicated the company has pulled back on expansion efforts there.

Walmart’s efforts in New York have been a series of fits and starts so to whatever degree the company has pulled back, don’t expect it to last. Walmart will be back and there waiting for it will be those ideologically opposed to anything Walmart does.

New York -- Leslie Dach, EVP corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, will step down in June. The retailer, which announced the news in a memo to employees, said it is actively searching for a replacement. The news was first reported by Politico.

"Leslie has played a pivotal role in helping us understand the broader role Walmart can play in meeting the major challenges facing society today, and social goals are now an integral part of how we run our business," Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke in the memo.

A new smartphone app Walmart unveiled to suppliers on Thursday has the potential to drive improved in-stock levels and increase associate efficiency.