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☆ A new Walmart in-store AI is giving employees advice on how to sell products before it's too late
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Michelle Castillo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The internally developed AI technology allows Walmart employees to scan produce like bananas to see how ripe the product is. Many clothing items are not recyclable, due to being made of blended fabrics. U.S. residents also discard about 11.3 million tons of clothing waste each year, according to Earth.org. Walmart isn't alone in using AI to tackle in-store waste, as several startups are creating tools to solve this growing problem. "When it comes to food waste, there is no silver bullet," said ReFED's executive director Dana Gunders, which has worked with Walmart for a few years on food waste solutions.

Persons: it's, Swati Kirti, Kirti, It's, UCLA Anderson, Sravana Karnati, Dana Gunders, Homer Swei, Swei, Karnati Organizations: Walmart, Walmart International Tech, UCLA, Walmart International Technology, Walmart Global Tech, Retailers Locations: Canada, U.S, United States, Mexico

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Resilient U.S. consumer spending drove Walmart's (WMT.N) better-than-expected second-quarter results and forecast hike but its international business on Thursday posted its best quarterly performance in several years. The retail behemoth's international business, which spans 19 countries, posted a 13.3% jump in sales during the second quarter, its strongest result since at least 2016, Refinitiv data shows. The unit posted $27.6 billion in sales, or 17% of the company's quarterly revenue, beating market estimates of $26.12 billion. In India, Walmart's majority-owned business Flipkart posted double-digit sales growth and PhonePe processed more than 5 billion transactions in a single month, Walmart said. "Walmart's international business continues to perform well.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Walmart's, Doug McMillon, Flipkart, Judith McKenna, McKenna, Kathryn McLay, Jason Benowitz, Siddharth Cavale, Aishwarya Venugopal, Vanessa O'Connell, Mark Porter Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Unilever, Caterpillar, Sam's, Walmart International, Walmart's Sam's, Thomson Locations: Rosemead , California, U.S, Canada, United States, Mexico, India, China, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Walmart raises full-year earnings forecast as grocery, online growth fuel higher sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It said adjusted earnings per share for the year will range between $6.36 and $6.46. That compares with its prior guidance for consolidated net sales gains of 3.5% and an adjusted earnings per share range of between $6.10 and $6.20. Transactions increased by 2.9% and the average ticket rose by 3.4% for Walmart U.S.Same-store sales for Walmart U.S. grew by 6.4% in the second quarter, excluding fuel, compared with the year-ago period. Sales for Walmart Connect, the company's advertising business in the U.S., grew 36% year over year. In the grocery department at Walmart U.S., sales of private labels rose 9% year over year.

Persons: John David Rainey, Rainey, Doug McMillon, Judith McKenna, Kath McLay, Chris Nicholas, " Rainey, Walmart's, John Furner Organizations: Walmart, Walmart U.S, CNBC, Sam's, Walmart Connect Locations: U.S

Despite these challenges, Walmart International has performed strongly under McKenna's leadership, under which it exited poorly performing operations in Japan, Britain, Argentina and Brazil. McKenna has led Walmart International since 2018, overseeing a multi-year transformation that resulted in the unit delivering more growth and stronger financial results across the board, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon wrote in a memo to employees. Sam's Club, a rival to Costco (COST.O), for years had been an underperforming business with muted sales growth. Sam's Club, a business unit with $84 billion of yearly revenue, has posted 12.7% average annual comparable sales growth since McKay took over the division, according to a Reuters calculation. Walmart also announced that Christopher Nicholas, currently chief operating officer of Walmart U.S., would replace McLay as CEO of Sam's Club.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Kathryn McLay, Judith McKenna, McKenna, Doug McMillon, Piper Sandler, McKay, she's, Edward Jones, Brian Yarbrough, Christopher Nicholas, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Siddharth Cavale, Anil D'Silva, Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Walmart Inc, Walmart International, Sam's, Woolworths, Sam's Club, Costco, Walmart U.S, McLay, Jan, Thomson Locations: Rosemead , California, U.S, China, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, Britain, Argentina, Brazil, India, Walmart's U.S, Walmart Mexico, Bengaluru, New York

[1/3] The sign outside the Sam's Club is seen at its store in Shanghai, China July 12, 2023. The membership stores are also gaining ground amid a sales decline in China's hypermarket sector, which struggled with a shift towards online purchases during the pandemic. The club warehouse format "is the only bright spot," said Derek Deng, who leads Bain & Company's consumer products practice in greater China. "Sam's Club are doing well. But Sam's Club was ultimately confident it is currently miles ahead, one of the people said.

Persons: Aly, Liu Zheng, lockdowns, Derek Deng, Bain, Kantar Worldpanel, Judith McKenna, Bain's Deng, Christina Zhu, Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh, Jamie Freed Organizations: Sam's, REUTERS, Sam's Club, Costco, Walmart, HK, Freshippo, Carrefour, Yonghui, Bain, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Sun, Retail, M, Beijing Yaodi Agriculture, M Club, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, BEIJING, Beijing, U.S, United States, Carrefour China, Peking, Yangzhou, Lanzhou, Sam's

☆ Walmart reiterates goal of doubling international gross merchandise in five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The analysts meeting and a press presentation by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon were held on Friday in conjunction with the retailer's annual shareholders meeting in Bentonville. Five years ago, Walmart International generated about $120 billion in GMV. Walmart's business model has evolved over the past few years, with a greater focus on omni-channel - a strategy that ties together its e-commerce business, delivery services, advertising and marketplace business. McKenna said Walmart's huge size and technological breadth will give it the leverage to scale this strategy more quickly. Walmart's omni-channel efforts have been a boon for the retailer as recession fears push more Americans to seek bargains in groceries.

Persons: Judith McKenna, Doug McMillon, McKenna, McMillon, Siddharth Cavale, Will Dunham Organizations: Walmart, Bentonville ., Walmart International, International Monetary, omni, Thomson Locations: BENTONVILLE , Arkansas, Mexico, India, Fayetteville , Arkansas, Bentonville, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, United Kingdom

[1/2] Customers shop at a mall ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Beijing, China January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoLONDON/MILAN/FRANKFURT/NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - The world's top consumer and luxury goods companies have seen sales of everything from cosmetics to condoms grow in China since Beijing ended strict COVID-19 curbs, another sign that the world's No. Tourism from China was helping sales in neighbouring Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Japan, he added. Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Nurofen tablets, cold remedy Lemsip and Durex, saw a pick-up in China after a decline in volumes because of lockdowns. U.S. retailer Walmart Inc (WMT.N), which operates nearly 400 retail and wholesale stores in China, reported strong traffic in its stores since reopening.

☆ Walmart execs say own-brand sales are growing as customers cut spending, and suggest that other brands could put their prices down to compete
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

More shoppers are buying private-label brands at Walmart amid economic uncertainty, execs say. CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC that by keeping prices low, Walmart could push other brands to drop their prices too. "But there is definitely some acceleration to private brands in the last 90 days." In response, Walmart is focusing on its value proposition and making sure it has high-quality private brands, he said. McMillon told CNBC that by keeping its prices low, Walmart could push other brands to drop their prices.

☆ Walmart doubles down on Africa despite a decade of frustration
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Nqobile Dludla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

A shopper pushes a trolley as she leaves a Builders Warehouse store owned by Walmart-led Massmart Holdings in South Africa, at Gleneagles, in the south of Johannesburg, South Africa, October 20, 2022. Instead, Massmart's units outside South Africa struggled with foreign exchange risk, tricky regulatory environments and macroeconomic volatility. Earlier this year, an internal Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) memo detailing its expansion plans, including a maiden foray onto the continent via South Africa, leaked to media. The pending battle with its global rival looms over Walmart's e-commerce strategy for Massmart, several shareholders told Reuters. While Walmart can now firmly set the direction at its South African unit, its track record outside the United States is spotty.

☆ Mexico president says he spoke with Walmart exec about lowering inflation on food products
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he met with Walmart International President and CEO Judith McKenna about "doing everything possible" to lower inflation on food products. It comes weeks after Mexican officials announced a deal with more than a dozen food makers and retailers, including Walmart, to halt rising food prices, with annual inflation in Latin America's second-largest economy hitting 8.76% in the first half of September. Data from the country's statistics agency showed food, beverage and tobacco prices rose 13.27% year-on-year. The company represents 25% of Mexico's retail sales, Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Anthony Esposito; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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