Portal:Companies

General index

Company of the week

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation, currently one of the world's largest corporations (by revenues) according to the 2007 Fortune 500. It was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is the largest private employer in the world and world's fourth largest utility or commercial employer, only trailing the People's Liberation Army of China, the National Health Service of England and the Indian Railways. Wal-Mart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States, with an estimated 20% of the retail grocery and consumables business, and the largest toy seller in the U.S., with an estimated 45% of the retail toy business, having surpassed Toys "R" Us in the late 1990s.

Wal-Mart operates in Mexico as Walmex, in the United Kingdom as ASDA, and in Japan as The Seiyu Co., Ltd. Wholly owned operations are located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the UK. Wal-Mart's investments outside North America have produced mixed results. In 2006, Wal-Mart sold its retail operations in South Korea and Germany due to sustained losses and a highly competitive market.

Wal-Mart has been the target of criticism from some community groups, women's rights groups, grassroots organizations, and labor unions. Specific criticisms include the company's extensive foreign product sourcing, low rates of employee health insurance, resistance to union representation, and alleged sexism, among other things.