Walmarts

Walmarts, in plural usage, refers to Walmart-branded retail stores around the world and the corporate structure that operates them. The term encompasses a range of formats, including discount department stores, supercenters, and warehouse clubs operated under the Walmart umbrella, as well as the company’s e-commerce platforms.

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton and opened its first store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. The chain expanded rapidly in the United States and later internationally. The corporate name has changed over time: it was originally Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and in 2018 the parent company adopted the name Walmart Inc. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WMT and has grown from a single discount store into a multinational retailer with diverse store formats and digital commerce.

The core business lines include Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam’s Club, a membership warehouse club. The company operates a range of formats, including physical stores and online platforms such as Walmart.com. In many markets, Walmart operates through wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, or minority stakes in local partners; notably, it holds a majority position in the Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart.

Global presence and scale vary by region, but Walmart maintains thousands of stores and a large online shopping operation, with a sizable portion of revenue generated in the United States. The company emphasizes an efficient supply chain and a pricing strategy often described as everyday low prices.

Walmart is one of the largest private employers worldwide and has been the subject of scrutiny regarding labor practices, competition, environmental impact, and supplier relations, even as it engages in charitable efforts through the Walmart Foundation.