Little Rock, Ark., May 20, 2013 – Walmart is set to launch a program in its Arkansas stores that will highlight and promote consumer products created, processed and produced in the state, giving shoppers the opportunity to support businesses and vendors with ties to Arkansas.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will join Walmart officials for the launch of the Arkansas' Own program on May 20 at the Walmart Supercenter at 2700 S. Shackleford Road in Little Rock.
"Part of supporting our Arkansas companies is knowing when and where we can purchase their products," Governor Mike Beebe said. "Through 'Arkansas' Own,' Walmart will help Arkansans more easily find and buy goods made here in the state we all call home."
Walmart has close to 100 Supercenters, discount stores, Neighborhood Markets and Express stores in Arkansas, giving producers a huge number of retail outlets to showcase their products.
"Our ultimate goal is to create awareness and drive consumer interest in Arkansas items and help the vendors and suppliers that mean so much to Walmart in our home state," said Ashley Taylor of Walmart. "This program will expose shoppers to many products they may not have known are being produced by their throughout the state."
Walmart currently carries more than 1,700 items manufactured, produced or processed in the state. Those products include 73 brands and 44 suppliers, ranging from mainstays such as Tyson, Gerber Baby Food, Stouffers and Huggies to smaller, lesser-known companies.
Packaging will not be changed, but special signage and labels will be used to point shoppers to the Arkansas' Own products on store shelves. In addition, items will be moved to prominent positions in the stores throughout the year to give even more exposure.
Arkansas' Own aligns with a commitment that Walmart announced in January that the company will buy an additional $50 billion in U.S. products over the next 10 years. Walmart will grow U.S. manufacturing by increasing what it already buys here – in categories like sporting goods, apparel basics, storage products, games, and paper products, and by helping to onshore U.S. production in high potential areas like textiles, furniture and higher-end appliances.
Arkansas businesses can apply to sell their products by contacting Walmart Supplier diversity at http://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/apply-to-be-a-supplier
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our 10,857 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and ecommerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
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