Walmart
Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other countries. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The company was founded by brothers Sam and James "Bud" Walton in nearby Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 and incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law on October 31, 1969. It also owns and operates Sam's Club retail warehouses.
Some of the key events about Walmart
- 1962The first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas, marking the beginning of the company's retail journey
- 1970Walmart became a publicly traded company, listing on the New York Stock Exchange
- 1970Walmart was sued for discriminating against female employees in hiring and promotions.
- 1983The company introduced its "People Greeter" program, creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers
- 1988The first Walmart Supercenter opened, combining general merchandise and a full-scale supermarket
- 1991Walmart expanded internationally by opening a store in Mexico City
- 1992The company faced criticism for selling foreign-made products while promoting "Buy American" campaigns.
- 2000Walmart paid $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over unpaid overtime.
- 2003A federal raid uncovered hundreds of undocumented workers in Walmart's cleaning crews.
- 2005Walmart made a significant commitment to environmental sustainability, setting goals to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency
- 2005Walmart agreed to pay $11 million to settle allegations of using illegal immigrants for cleaning services.
- 2006The company faced criticism for its policy of locking in overnight employees.
- 2008Walmart agreed to pay $54.25 million to settle a lawsuit over unpaid wages in Minnesota.
- 2009The company launched a $2 billion initiative to end hunger in the United States
- 2011The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit against Walmart.
- 2012Allegations surfaced of Walmart's involvement in bribery in Mexico to expedite store openings.
- 2014Walmart announced it would raise its minimum wage to $10 per hour, affecting approximately 500,000 employees
- 2015Walmart closed 154 U.S. stores, impacting thousands of workers.
- 2016The company acquired e-commerce retailer Jet.com, significantly boosting its online presence
- 2020Walmart committed $100 million to create a new center on racial equity in response to social justice issues
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.