Retail News CRM

Tag: Walmart

  • Rakuten  and Seiyu to partner in online grocery service

    Rakuten and Seiyu to partner in online grocery service

    Japanese online retail company Rakuten is partnering with Walmart-owned supermarket Seiyu to launch an online grocery service. Spokespeople from the companies say about 20,000 products will be available on the site, drawn from the Seiyu range, including fresh food. Orders will be fulfilled from stores, restricting the service – for now – to about 16 Japanese suburbs, however a warehouse has been opened near Tokyo to serve the capital.

    “We can tap into Rakuten’s 99 million-strong membership base,” said Seiyu executive officer Tamae Takeda. “[Rakuten’s] advantage is in technology, so we can combine our strengths.”

    The new online grocery service will compete with one launched by Amazon in April last year, as well as those offered by larger Japanese supermarket chains.

    Seiyu and Rakuten plan to offer free delivery on orders over a set threshold, or $4 for those under it.

  • Walmart may soon track heart rates through shopping carts

    Walmart may soon track heart rates through shopping carts

    But its not about burning calories, Walmart wants to capture shopper reactions based on what they see or feel in terms of products and prices. The patent, titled “System and Method for Biometric Feedback Cart Handle,” will have grocery carts fitted with sensors on the cart’s handle, that will transmit the data to Walmart’s servers.

    “If biometric indicators show signs of an emergency, the program may also issue a broadcast throughout the store to call associates’ attention to the situation and could potentially initiate a call for emergency medical help as well,” said technology blog CBInsights.

    However, not all shoppers are happy with this new development with many taking to social media to express their concerns. Susan La Duke tweeted that is was on “the list of reasons” why she would never shop at Walmart.

    The retail giant has also bolstered its e-commerce and grocery teams witha reshuffle of senior executives in the US.

    Kieran Shanahan was promoted as the new senior vice president of e-commerce retail for everyday living while Tom Ward was named the new senior vice president of digital operations.

    It also announced that Andrea Albright will take up the position of senior vice president of snacks, beverage and impulse, replacing Al Dominguez who is leaving the company after 12 years.

    Bloomberg reported that Shanahan and Ward had helped expand the online grocery business prior. Walmart’s grocery segment makes up more than half its US sales.

    Deutsche Bank had upgraded the shares of Walmart on Tuesday based on strength in the online grocery industry. Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell said that the retail giant is “reaping returns on the many years of investment in e-commerce and customer service”, which puts the retailing giant in the best position to move forward.

    Trussell also lifted his stock target from $US89 to $US113. Nuveen managing director Stephanie Link agrees that Walmart’s digital investments and acquisitions with Jet and Flipkart are a good move although she said to CNBC that Deutsche Bank’s call is a little early as Walmart still has to do some more to deliver growth.

    “They [Walmart] have just started to make these investments, and you’re just starting to see some results, but I think it’s going to take a long time … I think the environment is competitive and I think what Walmart is doing is right, but I don’t necessarily want to own the stock,” she said on CNBC‘s “Halftime Report.”

  • Walmart India eyes 10 pc revenue from private labels, 30 stores by 2019

    Walmart India eyes 10 pc revenue from private labels, 30 stores by 2019

    Walmart India, which runs 22 Best Price wholesale stores, is planning to increase the share of its private labels to topline to 10 percent by next year as it plans to tap the Flipkart platform.

    According to a report: The company opened its 22nd store in Ludhiana late last month, which is the sixth in the state, where it began with and the second in the Punjab city.

    The company will have 30 stores by the time it completes a decade of its second coming next year.

    Globally, the retail major which is bigger than Boeing, Coca-Cola, Facebook, and the Google parent Alphabet in total sales–nets around 20 percent of its topline from private labels, which are low-priced but high margin items while from a volume perspective it is around 25 percent, which it has already achieved in the country as well.

    Walmart India closed fiscal 2017 with a topline of Rs 3,609 crore, up around 14 percent, according to government filing.

    The numbers for FY18 is not available for Walmart.

    “Currently, our revenue from private labels is 6-7 per cent from our two brands–Right Buy and Member’s Mark, wherein the first is the cheaper than the other. We hope to take this to 10 per cent by 2019, when we close our first decade,” Krish Iyer, Chief Executive, Walmart India said.

    Internationally, its private labels are a US$ 60 billion business for them under the name of Sams Club, while its total volume is over US$ 500 billion.

    India is the only market where Walmart is only into wholesale.

    Iyer, also said he expects an uptick in private label sales going forward as the company is planning to cross-sell these brands on Flipkart, its online marketplace subsidiary here.

    In the biggest M&A deal, the world’s largest retailed Walmart had bought 77 percent of the homegrown online marketplace Flipkart for over US$ 16 billion in August.

    It can be noted that FDI norms allow only 51 percent in multi-brand retail, whereas in cash & carry 100 percent is permitted.

    Flipkart also has developed private brands like Billion though not exactly in the grocery segment.

    “What can be done is while we can’t sell on Flipkart, our manufactures can do and vice versa, which can be beneficial for both,” Iyer said.

    But he was quick to add that both are independent companies with independent boards and the process can take time.

    “Nothing will happen immediately at least over the next quarter or so. But we do see tremendous scope for synergies as Flipkart is very good at their logistics, deliveries, customer relationship management, artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics, among others. We too have similar strengths, which can be combined,” he said.

    The company made a reentry in 2009 after exiting its failed jv with Bharati Enterprises, on its own and opened the first wholesale store in Amritsar. The new 56,000 sq.ft. store in Ludhiana is the sixth in the state and the first one since August 2015 in Agra.

    The company has announced plans to open 50 stores by 2025. When asked where it would be by the turn of the first decade (next year), Iyer said, adding they would have 30 stores by December 2019. We will also two fulfilment centres by then, and the next one is coming up in Vishakapattanam by December 2019.

    He said the company has created over 1 million customers since 2009, and each store typically generates around 2,000 jobs of which around 250 are direct jobs.
    Walmart eyes 10 pc revenue from private labels, 30 stores by 2019

    Walmart India, which runs 22 Best Price wholesale stores, is planning to increase the share of its private labels to topline to 10 percent by next year as it plans to tap the Flipkart platform.

    According to a report: The company opened its 22nd store in Ludhiana late last month, which is the sixth in the state, where it began with and the second in the Punjab city.

    The company will have 30 stores by the time it completes a decade of its second coming next year.

    Globally, the retail major which is bigger than Boeing, Coca-Cola, Facebook, and the Google parent Alphabet in total sales–nets around 20 percent of its topline from private labels, which are low-priced but high margin items while from a volume perspective it is around 25 percent, which it has already achieved in the country as well.

    Walmart India closed fiscal 2017 with a topline of Rs 3,609 crore, up around 14 percent, according to government filing.

    The numbers for FY18 is not available for Walmart.

    “Currently, our revenue from private labels is 6-7 per cent from our two brands–Right Buy and Member’s Mark, wherein the first is the cheaper than the other. We hope to take this to 10 per cent by 2019, when we close our first decade,” Krish Iyer, Chief Executive, Walmart India said.

    Internationally, its private labels are a US$ 60 billion business for them under the name of Sams Club, while its total volume is over US$ 500 billion.

    India is the only market where Walmart is only into wholesale.

    Iyer, also said he expects an uptick in private label sales going forward as the company is planning to cross-sell these brands on Flipkart, its online marketplace subsidiary here.

    In the biggest M&A deal, the world’s largest retailed Walmart had bought 77 percent of the homegrown online marketplace Flipkart for over US$ 16 billion in August.

    It can be noted that FDI norms allow only 51 percent in multi-brand retail, whereas in cash & carry 100 percent is permitted.

    Flipkart also has developed private brands like Billion though not exactly in the grocery segment.

    “What can be done is while we can’t sell on Flipkart, our manufactures can do and vice versa, which can be beneficial for both,” Iyer said.

    But he was quick to add that both are independent companies with independent boards and the process can take time.

    “Nothing will happen immediately at least over the next quarter or so. But we do see tremendous scope for synergies as Flipkart is very good at their logistics, deliveries, customer relationship management, artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics, among others. We too have similar strengths, which can be combined,” he said.

    The company made a reentry in 2009 after exiting its failed jv with Bharati Enterprises, on its own and opened the first wholesale store in Amritsar. The new 56,000 sq.ft. store in Ludhiana is the sixth in the state and the first one since August 2015 in Agra.

    The company has announced plans to open 50 stores by 2025. When asked where it would be by the turn of the first decade (next year), Iyer said, adding they would have 30 stores by December 2019. We will also two fulfilment centres by then, and the next one is coming up in Vishakapattanam by December 2019.

    He said the company has created over 1 million customers since 2009, and each store typically generates around 2,000 jobs of which around 250 are direct jobs.

  • Walmart Canada launches grocery delivery in Metro Vancouver with Food-X

    Walmart Canada launches grocery delivery in Metro Vancouver with Food-X

    Walmart Canada has announced the launch of sustainable grocery delivery for Metro Vancouver consumers in collaboration with Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (SPUD)’s food delivery platform, Food-X Urban Delivery (Food-X). Metro Vancouver residents can now shop on walmart.ca/grocery or via the Walmart app and have their grocery orders delivered to their door by Food-X. Food-X helps Walmart with home delivery through shared warehousing and consolidation of orders.

    “It’s never been easier for customers to shop for fresh groceries – however and whenever they want,” said Daryl Porter, Vice President, Omnichannel Operations and Online Grocery. “Consumers are seeking out options to save time and money and Walmart is proud to offer more choices – including sustainable delivery.”

    Walmart remains committed to making everyday easier for busy families. This new grocery shopping option is faster and more affordable for customers in urban centres like Vancouver where there may not be convenient access to a Walmart Supercentre, and for customers who prefer to shop online.

    Customers can shop at walmart.ca/grocery or via the Walmart app. When done, they simply pay by credit card a then select a delivery window and their order will be delivered by Food-X right to their door in reusable totes as early as the next day. Customers can fill their cart with fresh groceries, including Canadian No. 1 grade fruits and vegetables such as BC-grown produce as well as an expanded selection of organic produce, Canadian beef, chicken and pork, dairy, baked goods, frozen foods and pantry items. They can also add health and beauty products, household supplies, pet food, baby food, diapers and lots more. All fresh groceries come with a 100 percent satisfaction, money-back guarantee. Minimum order is US $50 before taxes and delivery is US $9.97.

    The 74,000 sq. ft. sustainable warehouse features proprietary technology SPUD has been refining for the past 20 years to minimize the environmental impact of grocery delivery from reducing food waste to ensuring trucks are making fewer trips on the road. The Food-X warehouse has technology, several bio-digesters used to compost meat, produce, and compostable packaging bringing their food waste to 0.5 percent, which is leading the retail industry.

    Earlier this year, Walmart announced a commitment to achieve zero food waste by 2025 in its Canadian operations. The company’s journey to zero food waste in Canada by 2025 was announced in April 2018 with a three-part strategy that includes improving operational efficiencies, as well as increasing food donations and providing philanthropic support.

    “Our strategic collaboration with Food-X supports our belief that environmental and business sustainability go hand-in-hand,” said Porter. “Food-X is a leader in sustainability in Vancouver and we are proud to partner with a like-minded, environmentally-conscious operation.”

    “Consumer demand for online grocery shopping is growing and that means more trucks on the road,” said Peter van Stolk, CEO of Food-X. “We have built a best-in-class platform to get fresh food and groceries from the supplier to the kitchen while reducing waste and lowering emissions. We are very proud that Walmart is committed to zero food waste by 2025, and we are excited to be partnered with them on this goal.”

  • Amazon, Samara Capital buy India’s retail chain More

    Amazon, Samara Capital buy India’s retail chain More

    Samara Capital, a private equity company, has teamed with Amazon to buy Indian grocery retailer More from Aditya Birla Retail.

    While the value of the deal has not been disclosed, it is reported a person close to the transaction putting it at around ₹4,200 crore (US$584 million).

    It is believed Amazon’s stake in the business will be capped at 49 per cent to comply with Indian foreign investment regulations. The balance will be held by Samara Capital, which is an Indian entity founded by former Citigroup executives.

    Amazon has already committed US$500 million to build its food retailing business in India, where it sees massive opportunity for growth.

    Analysts say that by investing in More, Amazon can build both online and offline food retailing operations simultaneously and find ways to marry the two. But it faces intense competition from Walmart which spent $16 billion acquiring Flipkart in a deal completed last month.

    More operates more than 500 supermarkets and 20 hypermarkets, ranking it fourth among Indian grocery retailers.

  • Walmart India opens 22nd cash and carry store in India

    Walmart India opens 22nd cash and carry store in India

    Walmart India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Walmart Inc, Saturday announced the opening of its 22nd business-to-business Cash and Carry store in the country, making it the second Best Price Modern Wholesale store in Ludhiana and the sixth in Punjab.

    The new store simultaneously got integrated with the B2B e-commerce platform, making it the 22nd Best Price store to go online, a release said here.

    “I am very excited about opening the 22nd Cash and Carry store in India. It reiterates our commitment to India and our growth plans. Setting up a second store in Ludhiana and sixth one in Punjab reinforces our belief in the ease of doing business here in the state,” Krish Iyer, President and CEO, Walmart India said.

    The Best Price Modern Wholesale Store stocks over 5,000 items, including a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled foods, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care items, hotel and restaurant supplies, apparel, office supplies, electronic goods and other general merchandise items.

    Punjab is an important sourcing destination for Walmart India and the company sources food items such as fresh vegetables, agri-commodities, staples, meat, and beverages and non-food items including plastic-ware, glassware, decor items, brooms, mattresses, among others.

  • Walmart’s mini program “Scan to Buy” has attracted over 10 users in China

    Walmart’s mini program “Scan to Buy” has attracted over 10 users in China

    Walmart Scan & Go use in China has broken through the 10 million-users barrier, the first mini-program in the retail industry to reach such a broad user base.

    Since launching last April, Walmart Scan & Go – which allows customers to scan their own items and complete payment on their mobile phones for in-store purchases – has been promoted in nearly 300 Walmart stores in more than 50 cities. By the end of the year, it is expected to be available in more than 400 Walmart stores across the country.

    In the two-month tryout period in some Walmart stores, Scan & Go reached a penetration rate of up to 30 per cent of in-store customers choosing to use the mini-program to make payment. About 95 per cent of those users said they were willing to continue to use this new self-help checkout method.

    The mini-program also features an electronic mapping service called “Find My Item”, which provides customers with an electronic map-based shopping guide service helping in-store customers to quickly locate the products they need.

    Jordan Berke, Walmart China Hypermarket’s VP of e-commerce said: “Walmart Scan & Go is one of our important initiatives to deliver innovation and omni-channel experiences to our customers… We believe that innovative technologies provide a more convenient experience to customers and enhance customer loyalty.”

    Cecilia Tian, head of smart retail strategic partnership at Walmart’s partner Tencent, said: “Scan & Go meets the customer’s needs by shortening the checkout time. For retailers, Scan & Go helps anchor their digital assets and improve the digitalisation and CRM capability. It brings positive impact on O2O business. Tencent hopes to collaborate with retail partners such as Walmart, who are able to build a holistic, seamless O2O experience with digitalisation tools, improve the operation efficiency and drive business growth.”

  • Walmart unboxes America’s best toy shop

    Walmart unboxes America’s best toy shop

    When it comes to toys, Walmart is not playing around. Walmart has unboxed its plans for America’s Best Toy Shop: its destination for kids’ favorite products – toys! – in its stores and on Walmart.com. Walmart’s toy aisles are set to offer the best toys at the best prices along with more fun for everyone than ever before. Starting Thursday, America’s Best Toy Shop kicks off with:

    – Expanded aisles and the best selection of toys, with thousands of new and exclusive items from top brands, creating Walmart’s broadest assortment of toys ever.
    – The best experience for parents and kids to test, play and shop for toys – through in-store events and demos, and a new specialty toy experience online featuring exclusive content from toy influencers for the first time.
    – The season’s 40 top rated toys from the real toy authorities – kids – to make it easy for parents to know what toys are on trend and tops for kids.
    – Layaway…it’s back August 31.

    “Walmart has always been a destination for toys. Parents shop us for our wide selection of top brands and because we bring fun to stores in ways that only Walmart can,” said Anne Marie Kehoe, Vice President of toys, Walmart U.S. “But today, we are making even bigger investments in the category to ensure we have the widest selection of toys at the best prices and an unmatched in-store and online experience to show customers the best place to shop for toys is Walmart.

    BESTEST Assortment of Toys Ever

    To ensure Walmart has all of the toys kids want, the retailer has expanded America’s Best Toy Shop aisles in select stores across the country. This expanded assortment includes 30 percent new toys in stores and 40 percent more toys online.

    Walmart searched high and low for the biggest trends and the right toys to expand its assortment. New toy brands now available at Walmart include Pomsies, Fancy Nancy, Boxy Girls, Grumblies and Hairdorables. This year, the retailer has added hundreds of new exclusive toys in stores and online. Just one of the hundreds of new exclusives includes Ryan’s World, a line of 11 toys from first-grade internet toy sensation Ryan of Ryan ToysReview, available exclusively at Walmart until Sept. 30. The excitement continues on Walmart.com with new online-only exclusives such as the DC Comics 6-Volt Justice League Batmobile and KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen with 30 Piece Play Food.

    Bringing the WHHHHOOOAAA to Stores and Online

    America’s Best Toy Shop is putting the fun in toys, the Walmart way. Walmart will host more than 2,000 toy play dates over the next two months at Supercenters across the country so that kids can play with top toys as they start to build their holiday wish lists. Here’s a look at the fun happening in America’s Best Toy Shop now through November 1:

    – America’s Best Toy Shop will host its first National Play Day on September 8 in more than 1,500 stores. Kids will leave seriousness and responsibility at the door and enjoy the opportunity to play with top toys, pose for pictures and take home toy booklets and other giveaways.
    – In-store toy demos, including events highlighting toys from Ryan’s World, Barbie and Transformers will take place from August 30 to November 1.
    – Toy roadshows for Nerf and Hot Wheels, will give kids the chance to play with the newest toys from these two classic brands with interactive activities at Supercenters from August 31 to November 1.

    Walmart.com will also open America’s Best Toy Shop online as a specialty shopping destination for customers to discover the perfect toy. As a part of the experience, this year, for the first time ever, customers can hear directly from 25 toy influencers including Clara Lukasiak, Gavin Raygoza, Kenzie Mitchell, and Gabe & Garrett, who will develop exclusive toy content throughout the year, giving customers the scoop on all things toys with advice, reviews and recommendations. The online shop will also include curated toy collections to help customers find inspiration and shop for toys with ease, whether that be by trending item, age, character or brand, among other ways to shop.

    “This year is all about an unmatched experience on Walmart.com,” said Chris Sponiar, General Manager, Toys and Seasonal, Walmart eCommerce U.S. “Whether customers know exactly what they’re looking for or if they want to browse our digital shelves, we are the destination for parents to discover that perfect toy for their child. And, we make it easy. With options like free, two-day shipping or Pickup Today on millions of items, customers can get their toys however they like, either straight to their door or at a Walmart store.”

    Hear ye, Hear ye: The Kids Have Spoken!

    America’s Best Toy Shop launches with a little help from the real toy authorities – kids! Walmart engaged hundreds of youngsters to test and play with dozens of toys. Their favorites resulted in Walmart’s Top Rated by Kids list. Up from 25 toys in previous years, this list of 40 toys will help guide parents on the “it” toys kids are wishing for. Straight from kids themselves, here is a look at the top 40:

    – Power Brands: These brands have been household names for generations and continue to be popular with kids today. Whether it’s a twist on a classic, or a fresh new way to play with beloved icons, these toys are tops with kids:
    – Barbie Dreamhouse
    – Fisher-Price Little People Take Turns Skyway
    – Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage (Walmart exclusive)
    – LEGO Creator Pirate Roller Coaster
    – Nerf Laser Ops 2 Pack
    – Playmobil Hidden Temple with T-Rex
    – Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper (Walmart exclusive)
    – Razor Ultra Spark Scooter
    – Sing & Spin Scooter Minnie

    – Entertainment Properties: Toys that enable kids to play with their favorite characters from movies and television are all the rage. Here are the characters – in toy form – that kids will be buddying-up with off-screen:
    – Disney Princess Rapunzel Tower Vanity (Walmart exclusive)
    – Harry Potter Wizard Training Wands
    – Imaginext Jurassic World Jurassic Rex
    – Incredibles 2 Jack Jack Doll
    – Paw Patrol Fire Truck Ride-On (Walmart exclusive)
    – Paw Patrol Fire Truck
    – Peppa Pig Fun Fair Playset (Walmart exclusive)
    – PJ Masks Romeo’s Lab Playset

    – Collectibles: Few things can replace the sheer joy of discovering a surprise toy inside a mystery box. Kids may not know what they’re going to find, but that’s the delight! And, be sure they’ll want to collect them all:
    – New product from Hatchimal, hatching Oct. 5
    – Little Live Pets Wrapples
    – LOL Surprise House
    – Lost Kitties
    – Moj Moj Claw Machine
    – Fingerlings Hugs
    – Num Nom Silly Shakers Maker
    – PikMi Pops Super Flip
    – Ryans World Giant Mystery Egg
    – Treasure X Single Pack

    – Innovative Items: The future is here! As kids embark on new adventures, these innovative toys offer uncharted areas of play:
    – Air Hogs Supernova
    – All Star Hover Board (Walmart exclusive)
    – Fisher Price Laugh & Learn 3-in-1 Smart Car
    – Kumi Kreator
    – Little Live Pets Rollie My Kissing Puppy
    – Polaris 1.5 RC (Walmart exclusive)
    – Really Rad Robots Mi-Bro
    – Rideamals Scout Interactive Pony (Walmart exclusive)
    – STEM Jr. Wonder Lab
    – Terra Sect RC
    – Trail Buster RC (Walmart exclusive)
    – VTech Explore & Write Activity Desk (Walmart exclusive)
    – Zoom Tubes Car Trax

  • Black Diamond Sends Walmart Cease And Desist Letter

    Black Diamond Sends Walmart Cease And Desist Letter

    Walmart is learning a tough lesson in the challenges of expanding its business into a premium category after a dispute with upmarket outdoor-wear brand Black Diamond.

    The dispute is rooted in the US retail giant’s acquisition of outdoor gear retailer Moosejaw for $51 million. Walmart thought the acquisition would help it reach a new customer demographic it does not traditionally engage with, while Moosejaw saw the investment as an opportunity to scale its business up from its 10 physical stores and single online platform.

    Black Diamond, which makes premium-quality outdoor wear, had sold its products through Moosejaw’s stores and online prior to the company’s sale. But Black Diamond was incensed this week to find its products being promoted on a new subsite of Walmart’s online shop, Premium Outdoor Store curated by Moosejaw. It sent Walmart a letter demanding it cease and desist promoting its products on any Walmart-branded site, the clear inference being an association with Walmart undermined the Black Diamond’s premium status.

    The legal letter demanded Walmart stop using its name and trademarks “in a manner likely to confuse consumers into believing that Walmart is an authorised dealer of Black Diamond or that the new outdoor Walmart.com site is otherwise associated with or sponsored by Black Diamond”.

    The company accused Walmart of “infringing use of several hundred copyrighted photographs, the rights to which belong exclusively to Black Diamond”.

    “We did not see or approve the statement which Walmart released Monday and have never sold to Walmart,” Black Diamond president John Walbrecht said in a statement. “Black Diamond remains committed to our specialty retail partners and we do not plan on deviating from this strategy.”

    A Walmart spokesperson said it would never activate a brand [online] without its permission.

    “The decision to be part of this new experience will continue to be up to each brand, and our hope is that brands, and even other retailers, share our commitment to driving a truly inclusive outdoor industry,” the spokesperson said.

    “As we grow the Premium Outdoor Store, we will continue to look for leading brands and retailers that want to reach a new, wider audience.”

    Black Diamond’s products appear to have since disappeared from the Walmart online store.

    Quoting retail industry observers, a close association with Walmart “is a mixed bag for upscale brands because they enjoy loyalty from younger, wealthier shoppers who don’t necessarily look favourably on an association with Walmart’s corporate reputation, and might expect prices to come down”.

    Black Diamond says its action against Walmart is driven by a commitment to specialty retailers which stock its products.

  • Don Quijote hopes for Seiyu plot

    Don Quijote hopes for Seiyu plot

    Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote says it wants to buy Walmart’s Seiyu department store business in Japan.

    But Walmart still claims it is not for sale.

    Despite widely published reports, that Walmart was approaching potential buyers for the unit, the US company denies it is selling up and moving out of Japan.

    A Walmart spokesperson said that the company is not in talks with prospective buyers and is continuing to develop the business.

    Don Quijote CEO Koji Ohara told a press conference this week that if Seiyu came up for sale “we would be interested and it is attractive”.

    “If you don’t have real estate you can’t do retailing. In addition to its human resources, Seiyu has many locations that you cannot get your hands on,” he said.

    The original Nikkei report said Walmart could fetch 300 – 500 billion yen (US$2.7 – $4.5 billion) for the business if it sold. The move was perceived as a potential outright withdrawal from Japan and a chance for the firm to refocus on higher potential markets in China and India.

    Don Quijote, which has recently expanded into Singapore, last week reported its 29th consecutive year of sales and profit growth. The chain aims to have 500 stores in Japan by 2020, 80 more than it has now. But it is struggling to find locations.

  • Walmart to open 6 more stores in Uttar Pradesh India soon

    Walmart to open 6 more stores in Uttar Pradesh India soon

    US retail major Walmart will open six more stores in Uttar Pradesh soon, taking the number of such outlets to ten, a top company official said.

    “We have four stores at present – two in Agra, and one each in Meerut and Lucknow,” Krish Iyer, President and CEO of Walmart said.

    According to a PTI report: He was addressing reporters after launching Walmart India’s second B2B Fulfilment Centre here — the first in Uttar Pradesh and the second in the country after Bhiwandi, Mumbai, which was set up last November.

    “Uttar Pradesh is a very important and priority growth region for us and we are further expanding our business in the state to support kiranas, small farmers and local suppliers to help make them successful,” Iyer said.

    “The next such centre will be set up in Hyderabad,” he said.

    Iyer said that these centres would support ‘kirana shops’ and other small businesses.

    “It aims to contribute to local and state economy by creating thousands of job opportunities at the local level, besides giving a boost to the SME sector and the farmers,” he said.

    “The Fulfilment Centre will cater to the business needs of under-served small businesses such as kiranas (re-sellers), offices and institutions, and hotels, restauants and caterers,” he said.

    Walmart also plans to set up its ‘Best Price’ stores at various locations in Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Moradabad, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Sharanpur, Lucknow and Ghaziabad.

  • Walmart to boost digital footprint

    Walmart to boost digital footprint

    Aiming to make shopping faster and easier for millions of customers, cash-and-carry major Walmart on Tuesday announced a five-year strategic partnership with Microsoft.

    Already using Microsoft services for critical applications and workloads, Walmart will now embark on a broad set of Cloud innovation projects that leverage Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data platform solutions for a wide range of external customer-facing services and internal business applications.

    “Walmart’s commitment to technology is centred around creating incredibly convenient ways for customers to shop and empowering associates to do their best work,” Doug McMillon, CEO, Walmart, said in a statement.

    “Whether it’s combined with our agile cloud platform or leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to work smarter, we believe Microsoft will be a strong partner in driving our ability to innovate further,” McMillon added.

    Walmart has selected full range of Microsoft Cloud solutions, including Azure and Microsoft 365, for enterprise-wide use to help standardise across the company’s family of brands.

    “The world’s leading companies run on our Cloud, and I’m thrilled to partner with Walmart to accelerate their digital transformation with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft.

    Under the partnership, Walmart and Microsoft engineers will collaborate on the assessment, development and support phase of moving hundreds of existing applications to Cloud native architectures.

    To grow and enhance the online experience, the company will migrate a significant portion of walmart.com and samsclub.com to Azure, including its Cloud-powered check-out, thus, enabling Walmart to grow and reach more global markets than before.

  • Walmart looks to exit Japan

    Walmart looks to exit Japan

    U.S. retailer Walmart Inc (WMT.N) has decided to sell Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu and has already approached major retailers and private equity funds.

    If realized, the sale could amount to around 300 billion to 500 billion yen ($2.7 billion to $4.5 billion), the Nikkei said, without citing its sources.

    Walmart said it does not comment on market speculation.

    A sale would be the latest exit by Walmart from a lower-growth market as it looks to shake up its overseas business and invest in places like China and India.

    The world’s biggest retailer said last month it had sold an 80 percent stake in its Brazilian operations to private equity firm Advent International, exiting an underperforming business in its third major international deal since April.

    In addition to competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com (AMZN.O), Japan’s supermarkets are being squeezed by chains such as convenience stores and discount drugstores in a sluggish consumption environment.

    In January Walmart said it was launching an online grocery service with Rakuten Inc (4755.T), in what Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said he hoped may be a precursor to greater global cooperation.

    Walmart has struggled to replicate the success of its low-price model with Seiyu despite the introduction of an “everyday low price” pledge and frequent discounting.

    Japanese supermarkets, with lots of workers preparing fresh food and high levels of customer service, are famous for their low margins and are proving a drag for many retailers.

    Recent industry consolidation saw the creation of FamilyMart Uny Holdings Co Ltd (8028.T) in 2016, a deal that focused on expanding the number of FamilyMart convenience stores. Such stores have increasingly become a priority for retailers as a growth driver.

    Discounter Don Quijote Holdings Co Ltd (7532.T) has taken a 40 percent stake in Uny as it looks for room to expand. Earlier this year Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (3382.T) announced a tie-up with regional general merchandise store chain Izumi Co Ltd (8273.T).

    Japan’s supermarket industry has proved difficult for foreign retail giants, with exits by Tesco (TSCO.L) in 2011 and Carrefour (CARR.PA) in 2005.

  • Walmart India gets half of biz via out-of-store sale channels

    Walmart India gets half of biz via out-of-store sale channels

    US retail major Walmart is now getting nearly half of its business through non-store or out-of-store sales channels, which include B2B e-commerce, associates’ driven sales and call centres, a company official has said.

    According to a report: While, the rest half of its business still comes through in-store walk-ins, where its members visit its stores and purchase.

    Besides, Walmart India is also going to open another fulfilment centre soon at Lucknow after opening its first such facility in Mumbai last year.

    “Almost 50 percent of our business comes through in-store walk-ins where our kirana members can discover new products and in-store demos also allow them to experience new food products made by our supplier partners, mostly small and regional,” Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Walmart India said.

    He further said: “We have been helping these kiranas through our B2B Omnichannel efforts and rest of the business comes through ‘out of store’ sales, which include B2B e-commerce, sales associates driven sales (who take the tablets carrying virtual stores to help take orders from our members) and call centres.”

    Walmart had started B2B e-commerce in July 2014 from its Lucknow and Hyderabad ‘Best Price Store’ and was later extended to other stores.

    It was among one of the first companies in India, which had adopted the omni channel retail system by integrating online and offline formats here.

    “This way not only our members are able to focus on running their stores more efficiently and serving their customers better but also get the convenience of placing orders from their stores, easy payment solutions and doorstep delivery, while growing their business,” Kumar further said.

    Walmart, as per its strategy to strengthen presence in the Indian market and also compete head-on with global rival Amazon, had last month announced a mega deal to pick up 77 percent stake in Flipkart.

    Walmart India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Inc, operates 21 cash and carry stores here under the brand name of ‘Best Price’ in 9 states across the country.

  • Walmart to try new Sam’s Club concept

    Walmart to try new Sam’s Club concept

    Walmart is to test a new Sam’s Club concept which is less than a quarter the size of the current model.

    Stewart Samuel, program director at IGD Canada, says a typical Sam’s Club outlet in North America is 134,000sqft. But the new store opening in Dallas is just 32,000sqft.

    “This will be a new test format for Sam’s Club which will help it to further innovate and improve the member experience,” says Samuel, who shapes IGD’s research program across North America.

    “Offering a convenient shopping experience will be a key driver underpinning the format’s development. The retailer will focus on delivering a more digital-led experience, including fast membership sign-up, easy returns, checkout using Scan & Go and digital signage.”

    The new Sam’s Club concept will offer a tailored, locally-relevant assortment of between 1000 and 2000 items, including grocery and fresh foods, grab-and-go meals and frequently purchased consumable goods.

    While the test format will be radically different to the core Sam’s Club offer, it could provide Walmart with a new route to future club growth, particularly as e-commerce continues to become a larger part of the club model.

    “This has been a priority focus for the retailer, with its established Club Pickup model augmented by the launch of home delivery via Instacart earlier this year. In January, the retailer announced that it was closing 63 clubs, with around 10 of them earmarked for conversion into e-commerce fulfillment centres,” said Samuel.

    The format could also provide Walmart with new ideas to enhance its hypermarket model.

    “While the retailer has launched several initiatives as part of its ‘Supercenter of the future’ project, these have been within its existing store footprint. Sam’s Club has been an important incubator for new ideas at Walmart over recent years, so success with this new format could lead to a similar test for its core hypermarket format.”