 Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. History
Today's Wal-Mart facilities are still driven by the Three
Basic Beliefs that drove our very first store. Although Mr.
Sam is no longer with us, his ideas and ethics provide a
timeless recipe for success.
Wal-Mart has achieved its present success because of a history
of never being satisfied with the way things are. Our Company
is a visionary Company that learns from and cherishes its
past, but does not live in it. Here are a few brief highlights
of the greatest Retail Company ever! These highlights are
intended to show you how Mr. Sam's vision from a few years
ago has grown - a vision that now includes you as a new Associate.
| 1960s |
1962 Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart
store in Rogers, Ark.
1969 Company incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on
Oct. 31. |
| 1970s |
1970 Wal-Mart opens first distribution center and home
office in Bentonville, Ark.
1972 Wal-Mart approved and listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
1975 Inspired by workers he saw on a visit to Korea, Sam
Walton introduced the famous "Wal-Mart Cheer"
to associates. |
| 1980s |
1983 First SAM'S CLUB opened in April in Midwest City,
Okla.
1984 Sam Walton does the hula at high noon on Wall Street,
making good on promise to associates after company achieves
pre-tax profit of 8 percent in 1983.
1984 David Glass named company president.
1987 Wal-Mart Satellite Network (largest private satellite
communication system in the U.S.) completed
1988 David Glass named chief executive officer of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
1988 First Supercenter opened in Washington, Mo. |
| 1990s |
1990 Wal-Mart becomes nation's No. 1 retailer.
1991 International market entered for first time with
the opening of a unit in Mexico City.
1992 President George Bush presents Sam Walton with the
Medal of Freedom.
1992 Sam Walton passes away on April 5.
1992 S. Robson Walton named chairman of the board on
April 7.
1992 Wal-Mart enters Puerto Rico.
1993 Wal-Mart International division formed with Bobby
Martin as president.
1993 First billion-dollar sales week in December.
1994 122 Woolco stores in Canada acquired.
1995 Wal-Mart builds three units in Argentina and five
in Brazil.
1996 Wal-Mart enters China through a joint-venture agreement.
1997 Wal-Mart becomes the No. 1 employer in the United
States
1997 Wal-Mart has 680,000 associates worldwide, including
115,000 associates internationally.
1997 Wal-Mart replaces Woolworth on the Dow Jones Industrial
Average.
1997 Wal-Mart has first $100 billion sales year, with
sales totaling US$105 billion.
1998 Wal-Mart acquires 21 Wertkauf units in Germany.
1998 Wal-Mart introduces Neighborhood Market concept
with three stores in Arkansas.
1998 Wal-Mart exceeds $100 million in annual charitable
contributions, with donations totaling US$102 million.
1998 Wal-Mart enters Korea through a joint venture agreement.
1999 Wal-Mart has 1,140,000 associates, making the company
the largest private employer in the world.
1999 Wal-Mart acquires the ASDA Group plc. in the United
Kingdom (229 stores).
1999 Wal-Mart acquires 374 Interspa units in Germany. |
| 2000s |
2000 Wal-Mart ranked 5th by FORTUNE magazine in
its Global Most Admired All-Stars list.
2000 H. Lee Scott named president and CEO of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
2001 Wal-Mart topped Fortune's Global500 and ranked third
among the "Most Admired Companies in America".
2002 Wal-Mart entered the Japanese market through the
acquisition of interest in Seryu.
2002 Wal-Mart topped Fortune's Global500 and ranked first
among the "Most Admired Companies in America".
2003 Wal-Mart topped Fortune's Global500 and ranked first
among the "Most Admired Companies in America".
2004 Wal-Mart held its shareholder meeting on March 4
in Shenzhen.
2005 Wal-Mart's ownership stake in Japanese Seiyu increased
to 56.56% in November.
2005 Wal-Mart buys Sonae's Brazil operations including
140 hypermarkets, supermarkets and wholesale units for
$764 million in December.
2005 The SAM’S CLUB in Shenzhen was relocated to
a new place on December 22, which provided customers
with a more enjoyable shopping environment and more spacious
parking lot.
2006 Wal-Mart made its first foray into Central American
retailing by buying a stake in the region's top retailer
from Dutch retailer Royal Ahold, which has stores in
Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
2006 The distribution center in Shenzhen was relocated
from Shekou District to Longgang District on August 28.
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