Walmart pledges $5 million toward Japanese earthquake relief

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced that it is committing $5 million in cash and in-kind donations for emergency relief efforts in response to Japan's recent earthquake and resulting tsunami. Also, Walmart operations around the world are planning or have implemented fundraising drives among associates and customers to provide additional relief funds for the victims.



"With the impact of this earthquake on our own communities, customers, associates and suppliers, we wanted to reach out with assistance as soon as possible," said Scott Price, executive VP, president and CEO of Walmart Asia.



Price added that Walmart was also mounting a full-scale operation to get additional relief supplies into Japan. The supplies include 95 tons of water, acrylic blankets, tents, warm clothes, fleece, portable toilets, flashlights, batteries, and other necessary relief items.



"Our operations in Japan are actively engaged in providing assistance on the ground, and we're continuing to monitor the situation and look for additional ways that we can help with the relief efforts," added Toru Noda, president and CEO, Walmart Japan. He added that since the disaster struck, Walmart associates were working around the clock to keep supply going to the Seiyu stores in Japan, which had become a lifeline for local communities.



Walmart fully acquired Seiyu in 2008. Currently there are 35,892 associates, 371 Seiyu stores and 43 Wakana deli stores in Japan. There are 24 Seiyu stores and 1,877 associates in the Sendai area.