Report: Wal-Mart orders improved grocery sales

Bentonville, Ark. –- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reportedly sent a memo to marketing managers on Oct. 2 saying that sales need to improve for chilled and fresh items in stores, including dairy, meat and produce.

According to the New York Times, the memo cited customer complaints about expired items, as well as the need for less backup inventory and the rotation of perishable items.

A Wal-Mart spokesperson confirmed the memo’s existence and said the company has already taken steps to improve customer satisfaction with perishable items, such as 100% money-back guarantee for product freshness.

However, anonymous store managers said they are not being allowed to add staff hours to perform the extra labor needed to ensure the freshness of perishable goods on the shelves.