Walmart casts wide net for American-made products to sell

For the third year in a row, Walmart hosted more than 450 entrepreneurs during the company’s “Made in the USA” Open Call event held Tuesday, June 28 at its corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. The event, part of Walmart’s fourth annual U.S. Manufacturing Summit, is designed to find products made, assembled or grown in the U.S.



Hundreds of potential and current suppliers representing companies of all sizes from across the U.S. pitched everything from food to toys to apparel. Entrants were also able to meet with hundreds of Walmart buyers. The company is putting every shelf-stable item pitched at Open Call on Walmart.com. With very few exceptions, everything is accepted. Items are available in-store ranging from just a few to thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the country.



“We are thrilled to put hundreds of new Made in the USA products on Walmart.com,” said Michelle Gloeckler, executive VP, consumables, health & wellness, U.S. manufacturing lead. “Walmart’s $250 billion commitment to buy products supporting American jobs is having a tangible impact on communities across the country as factories expand or open to make products for Walmart stores, Walmart.com and Sam’s Club.”



The 2016 U.S. Manufacturing Summit and Open Call, with companies attending from more than 40 states and nearly 800 meetings taking place, are part of Walmart’s 2013 pledge to purchase an additional $250 billion in U.S.-made products by 2023.