About Us
Walmart serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,650 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide.
A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2010 Most Admired Companies survey.
Our History
Walmart was founded in 1962, with the opening of the first Walmart discount store in Rogers, Ark. The company incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., on Oct. 31, 1969. The company's shares began trading on OTC markets in 1970 and were listed on the New York Stock Exchange two years later.
The company grew to 276 stores in 11 states by the end of the decade. In 1983, the company opened its first Sam’s Club membership warehouse and in 1988 opened the first supercenter -- now the company’s dominant format -- featuring a complete grocery in addition to general merchandise. Walmart became an international company in 1991 when it opened its first Sam's Club near Mexico City. Learn more about our history.
Our Purpose
Saving people money to help them live better was the goal that Sam Walton envisioned when he opened the doors to the first Walmart more than 40 years ago. Today, this mission is more important than ever to our customers and members around the world. We work hard every day in all our markets to deliver on this promise. We operate with the same level of integrity and respect that Mr. Sam put in place. It is because of these values and culture that Walmart continues to make a difference in the lives of our customers, members and associates. Learn more about our purpose.
Ed. Note: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is the legal name of the corporation. The name "Walmart," expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the legal name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, SEC filings, litigation or governance matters.

Awards and Recognition
2010
2010 Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) Corporate Friend of the Year Award
One of five finalists for the "Corporate Stewardship" award presented by U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC)
2010 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military by CivilianJobs.com
Donor of the Year by Feeding America, for providing funds, and vehicles, and more than 100-million pounds of food.
2009
The National Urban League honored Walmart with the 2009 Corporate Leadership Award during the organization’s 53rd annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner. Read more.
Diversity MBA Magazine has ranked Walmart No. 2 on their 2009 "50 Out Front Companies for Diversity Leadership: Best Places for Diverse Manager to Work" list.
2008
Diversity MBA Magazine ranked Walmart No. 3 on their 2008 "Top 50 Companies for Diverse Manager to Work"
The Business Civic Leadership Center's study on the State of Corporate Community Investment named Walmart as one of the top companies recognized by its peers as "doing a great job in making a difference".
FORBES magazine recognized Walmart Stores as the "No. 1 most generous company overall."
2007
Evangeline Booth Award Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy
The Fisher House Patriot Award
Boys & Girls Club Chairman’s Award
2006
FOUNDATION CENTER recognized the Walmart Foundation as the third largest corporate foundation for total giving
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Gaye Cypert Power of a Promise Award
2004
For the 2nd year in a row FORTUNE magazine recognized us as the most admired company in the United States.
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, honored our company Walmart as a Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipient. This award was introduced to publicly recognize the significant contributions and sacrifices made by America's employers of Guardsmen and Reservists.
2003
FORTUNE magazine recognized us as the most admired company in the United States.
Arkansas Community Foundation recognized us as the Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation of the Year
2002
The Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership, a presidential award that recognizes companies for outstanding achievement in employee and community relations.
Forbes magazine recognized us as one of the most philanthropic companies in America.
Americans named Walmart the company they think of first in supporting local causes and issues, according to Cone, Inc.

The Walmart Foundation
Creating opportunities so people can live better
Our Mission

The Walmart Foundation strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in our communities including our customers and associates. Through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteerism, the Walmart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in our four main focus areas:
Education
Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity
Environmental Sustainability
Health and Wellness
Current Focus on Hunger Relief: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation made a $2 billion commitment through 2015 to hunger relief efforts in the U.S. in order to support the record 1 in 6 Americans who do not know where their next meal is coming from. As hunger relief is now an integral part of the Foundation’s work, the Foundation seeks to fund initiatives that integrate hunger relief into the main focus areas listed above.
The Walmart Foundation has a particular interest in supporting the following populations: veterans and military families, traditionally underserved groups, the disability community and people impacted by natural disasters.

http://walmartstores.com/communitygiving/203.aspx

Free Sierra Mist at Walmart this weekend
Quench your thirst at Walmart for free this weekend.
PepsiCo is giving away 10 million cans of Sierra Mist Natural this weekend at 2,800 Walmart Supercenters this weekend.
The beverage company announced last week that it had changed the ingredients in the soda, making it with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Now made with only five ingredients, the company is touting it as an all natural beverage.
They're giving people a free taste in hope that they'll like it and buy a case.
A can will be given out to anyone who visits a Supercenter Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is the largest giveaway ever for both PepsiCo and Walmart

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/consuminginterests/blog/2010/10/free_sierra_mist_at_walmart_th_1.html

October 8, 2010

Walmart takes a green step with pet products
Walmart has just made a big announcement regarding two things a lot of us care about — pets and the environment.
The mega-retailer says that it will be recycling its water and soda bottles and converting them into pet beds. Hangers will become cat litter pans; bags will be litter box liners and cardboard will get new life as cat scratchers.
Two of Walmart’s three guiding sustainability goals are to create zero waste and to sell products that sustain people and the environment,” John Kunkel, a Walmart pets buyer said in a statement. “We are excited about the opportunity to offer customers these quality PoochPlanet and SmartyKat products that also move us closer to achieving those goals.”

Worldwise, the firm Walmart is partnering with for the initiative, estimates just the pet bed sales will keep the equivalent of more than 100 million plastic bottles out of landfills —that includes 25 million of them now coming from Walmart.
Now even if you’ve got issues with some of Wal-Mart’s policies and politics, you have to respect the company for taking a step in the right direction with this. The company is big enough, and no doubt generates enough garbage, that its recycling efforts could be important.
The pet beds will be made by PoochPlanet and the cat products by SmartyKat. They’re both on sale at Walmart starting this month.
Thoughts?

The Real Facts About Wal-Mart's Gender DiscriminationWalmart allegedly discriminates against women.
In 2001, six women sued Walmart in California claiming the company discriminated against women by systematically denying them promotions and paying them less than men. The lawsuit, Dukes v. Wal-Mart, has expanded to include more than 1.6 million current and former female associates, and was certified on June 21 2004 as the largest class action lawsuit ever1.
In 2001, while more than two-thirds of Walmart's hourly workers were female, women held only one-third of salaried positions and made up less than 15 percent of store managers. This is all despite women having had on average longer seniority and higher merit ratings than their male counterparts2.
In 2001, women managers on average earned $14,500 less than their male counterparts. Female hourly workers earned on average $1,100 less than male counterparts3.
In 2001, for the same job classification, women earned from 5 percent to 15 percent less than men, even after taking into account factors such as seniority and performance4.
Footnotes Mondaq Business Briefing, November 1, 2004 Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-Mart Workforce, Richard Drogin, Feb. 2003. Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-Mart Workforce, Richard Drogin, Feb. 2003. Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-Mart Workforce, Richard Drogin, Feb. 2003.

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/facts/gender.html

Hey guys did we think of a company to pick? I will think of some