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first Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. History

Wal-Mart is committed to its 3 beliefs, just as how it operates its first store. Sam’s principles and philosophy have been and are going to lead us to success as he is still alive. Wal-Mart’s success today bases on its continuous striving for excellence. Wal-Mart is a company which has foresight and cherishes its past from which it can always learn experience and move on. Wal-Mart history will revive through the below Year Chronology.

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.
Aug, 2007, Wal-Mart founded a joint venture with Indian Bharti Group to provide Indian retailers, manufacturers and peasants with wholesale service.
21 Feb, 2008, Wal-Mart announced that it would open10 to 15 large-scale cash-and-carry wholesale stores in India, which means Wal-Mart started to enter India wholesale market formally
22 Oct, 2008, Wal-Mart Global Sustainability Summit held in Beijing, inviting over 900 suppliers and officials to the discussion on new sustainable initiatives of energy saving, emission reduction, packaging reduction, etc.
November 21, 2008,board of directors has elected Mike Duke, to succeed Lee Scott as president and chief executive officer.
January 7, 2009, Wal-Mart announced Doug McMillan as CEO of Wal-Mart International.
By the end of 2009, Walmart China has successfully set up 13 direct purchasing projects, covering a total area of 300,000 Mu and directly benefiting over 283 thousand farmers in 14 provinces.
October 30, 2009 –Walmart Senior Executive Delegation visits the Site of the USA National Pavilion. The delegation, which was headed by Mike Duke President and CEO, Walmart Stores, Inc., and included Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart International, Scott Price, President and CEO, Walmart Asia, and Ed Chan, President and CEO, Walmart China.
November 2, 2009, Walmart CEO Mike Duke and Senior Executives Visit China. There are two major themes of the trip, furthering Walmart’s sustainability commitment and underlining confidence in China as a major engine for retail growth and as a crucial country in Walmart’s global supply chain.
2010s

Feb. 25, 2010 – Walmart announced a goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015. This represents one and a half times the company's estimated global carbon footprint growth over the next five years and is the equivalent of taking more than 3.8 million cars off the road for a year.
April 6, 2010 , Walmart announced its charitable giving global totaled more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts in fiscal year ending 2010 (FYE10, Feb. 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010)
April 15, 2010, “Fortune” magazine announced Walmart replaces Exxon Mobil is once again the Fortune top 500 of the United States.