No, Walmart is not an Indian company. It is an American multinational retail corporation which operates a chain of grocery stores, hypermarkets, and discount department stores in USA and many other countries. Walmart US is the company’s largest segment, while Walmart International controls the company’s overseas operations. In the e-commerce sector, Walmart operates through brands like Flipkart.
Walmart is the world’s largest retailer in terms of revenue. The company has a vast supply chain backed by advanced logistics. Its business model is based on affordable prices. Walmart serves millions of customers through its stores and e-commerce platforms. It also runs membership-based warehouse clubs under the brand name, Sam’s Club.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Sam Walton, James Walton |
| Headquarters | Bentonville, Arkansas, United States |
| CEO | Doug Mcmillon |
| Sector | Retail |
Company History
Walmart was established as Walmart Discount City Store in Rogers, Arkansas by Sam Walton and James Walton in the year 1962. The company was incorporated as Wal-Mart Inc. in 1969 and changed its name to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in the year 1970. By the year 1969, Walmart had expanded to 38 stores across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. In the year 1971, Walmart increased its network to 51 stores and reached $78 million in sales.
By 1980, Walmart was operating 276 stores with annual sales of $1 billion. The company launched Hypermart USA by integrating groceries and general merchandise in 1987. Walmart opened its first Supercenter in Washington in the year 1988. The company entered the international market by opening stores in Mexico in the year 1991.
Walmart acquired 77% stakes in the major Indian e-commerce brand, Flipkart, in the year 2018. The company’s online sales increased by 79% during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Current Status
Walmart is currently present in 19 countries and operates around 10,750 stores, serving around 270 million customers weekly. Its e-commerce business is showing high growth in the financial year 2025. The company is investing in AI and automation to compete with major brands like Amazon.
Walmart has recently increased the prices of groceries and electronics due to higher tariffs on imports from multiple countries. The company recently settled a lawsuit for overcharging on weighted goods and bagged citrus.
Future Outlook
Walmart’s e-commerce sales are expected to increase in the coming years. The company is likely to continue investing in AI for a number of innovations like drone deliveries, smart checkouts, personalized shopping and more. Walmart is expected to increase use of renewable energy to achieve zero emission by 2040.
Walmart is focusing on expanding its share in countries like China and India in order to strengthen its global reach.