Walmart History: Founder, Growth, and What It Is Now

The History and an Overview of Walmart

Walmart started as a small-town retail idea with a big goal. It aimed to sell a wide range of goods at low prices. Over time, it grew into one of the world’s largest retailers.

The story begins with Sam Walton and a simple focus on value. The company kept that focus as it moved into new store formats, new countries, and online shopping. Today, Walmart runs stores and digital channels at a huge scale.

This overview walks through how Walmart began, how it grew, and what it looks like now. It also covers key turning points, challenges, and the leadership changes announced for 2026.

Facts at a Glance

Walmart Inc. is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The company reports three main business segments. It also describes a large global store base and major online reach.

Walmart states its purpose as helping people save money and live better. That goal connects to its pricing approach and cost focus. It also ties into how Walmart designs stores, services, and delivery options.

Company name: Walmart Inc.
Headquarters: Bentonville, Arkansas
Purpose (company-stated): Help people save money and live better
Segments (company-reported): Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam’s Club U.S.
Scale (company-reported): 10,750+ stores and operations in 19 countries, with about 270 million customer visits per week
Workforce (company-reported): About 2.1 million associates worldwide (as of January 31, 2025)
Walmart U.S. store count (company-reported): 4,605 stores
Walmart International unit count (company-reported): 5,566 units (fiscal year ended January 31, 2025)

The Founder’s Story

Walmart’s story is closely tied to Sam M. Walton. He built his skills in retail before Walmart existed. Those early years shaped the way he later ran discount stores.

In 1945, Walton opened a Ben Franklin franchise variety store in Newport, Arkansas. In 1950, he moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, and opened Walton’s 5&10. That store became part of the company’s origin story.

Founder: Sam M. Walton
1945: Opened a Ben Franklin franchise variety store in Newport, Arkansas
1950: Opened Walton’s 5&10 in Bentonville, Arkansas
1962: Opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas

The Problem They Wanted to Solve

Walmart focused on a clear problem from the start. Many people wanted low prices and a reliable place to buy everyday goods. Some communities, including smaller towns, had fewer discount options.

Walmart’s answer was to offer a wide mix of items at prices that felt consistently low. The company connects this to a cost focus that supports everyday low prices. It aimed to make value feel normal, not rare.

Make low prices consistent and easy to find
Offer broad selection in one stop, not just a narrow set of items
Serve communities that were often overlooked by large retailers

How It All Started

Walmart did not begin as a giant chain. It began as a retail experiment built on what Walton learned in variety stores. The first Walmart store opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.

As the store idea worked, expansion followed. The company later completed its initial public offering in 1970. That step helped fund growth across many regions.

1962: First Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas
1970: Walmart completed its IPO

The Idea Behind Walmart

Walmart’s core idea was simple. Keep prices low, keep selection broad, and keep operations tight. The company connects this approach to everyday low prices and everyday low costs.

Walmart also ties its idea to a purpose statement. It says it exists to help people save money and live better. That line shows up often in how the company explains what it does.

Pricing model: Everyday low prices (EDLP)
Operating focus: Cost discipline to support low prices
Purpose (company-stated): Help people save money and live better

Company Products and Services

Walmart sells a mix of groceries, everyday essentials, and general merchandise. It runs physical stores and also sells through digital channels. Many services are designed to support convenience as well as price.

In company filings, Walmart describes offerings that include grocery, consumables, and general merchandise. It also describes services such as pickup and delivery. It highlights parts of its business that support sellers and advertisers too.

Groceries: Food and household essentials sold in stores and online
General merchandise: Items such as home goods, apparel, electronics, and more
Health and wellness: Services and products described in filings, including pharmacy-related areas
Pickup and delivery: Options that connect stores and online ordering
Marketplace and seller services: Services tied to third-party selling
Advertising offerings: Ad products described as part of the business
Financial services (as described in filings): Money transfers, bill pay, check cashing, and related services in some locations

How Walmart Makes Money

Walmart’s main income comes from selling goods. That includes sales in stores and sales through online channels. Company reports describe net sales as the largest part of total revenue.

Walmart also earns money through membership fees at Sam’s Club. In addition, company filings describe revenue tied to services like advertising and marketplace-related activities. These add to the retail engine.

Retail sales: Goods sold in stores and online
Membership income: Sam’s Club membership fees
Service income (as described in filings): Advertising and marketplace-related services

Target Market

Walmart is built for mass-market shoppers. It serves people who want value and convenience. It also aims to be a place where customers can buy many categories in one trip.

Sam’s Club adds a membership-based audience. It serves members who want bulk items and value pricing. The club format is part of Walmart’s broader approach to serving different shopping styles.

Walmart customers: Value-focused shoppers across many income levels
Sam’s Club members: Households and many small-business shoppers who use the club model

Innovation and Big Ideas

Walmart often frames innovation as practical, not flashy. It focuses on scale, logistics, and systems that reduce costs. Those savings help support everyday low prices.

In more recent years, the company has pushed hard on omnichannel shopping. That includes pickup, delivery, and stronger digital experiences. It also expanded advertising capabilities through acquisitions like VIZIO.

EDLP strategy: Keep prices low in a steady way
Supply chain strength: Distribution and fulfillment at large scale
Omnichannel growth: Linking stores with online ordering, pickup, and delivery
Advertising expansion: Building ad offerings and adding VIZIO and its SmartCast platform

Defining Moments

Some moments changed Walmart’s path in a lasting way. The IPO helped fund growth. New store formats widened what Walmart could offer in one location.

International expansion and eCommerce added new directions. Those moves also brought new competition and new complexity. Over time, Walmart became a mix of stores, clubs, and digital services.

1970: Walmart completed its IPO
1983: First Sam’s Club opened
1988: First Walmart Supercenter opened
1991: International expansion began through a joint venture in Mexico
1996: Early eCommerce began with walmart.com and samsclub.com

Big Moments and Growth

Walmart grew quickly after proving the model could scale. It expanded across the United States and then into other countries. It also widened its reach by adding new store formats and digital channels.

In company reporting, Walmart describes massive weekly customer traffic. It also reports a large store footprint across many countries. These numbers show how far the company moved from its first store in Arkansas.

Customer traffic (company-reported): About 270 million customer visits per week
Global store count (company-reported): 10,750+ stores
Countries (company-reported): Operations in 19 countries
Walmart U.S. (company-reported): 4,605 stores
Walmart International units (company-reported): 5,566 units (fiscal year ended January 31, 2025)

Store Formats and How They Fit Together

Walmart is not just one kind of store. It includes discount stores, supercenters, and membership clubs through Sam’s Club. These formats support different customer needs and shopping habits.

The Supercenter model helped Walmart combine grocery and general merchandise at scale. Sam’s Club created a different value play through membership. Together, they broadened Walmart’s reach.

Discount stores: The original format that helped Walmart expand
Supercenters: Large stores combining grocery and general merchandise
Sam’s Club: Membership warehouse clubs with membership-fee revenue

Times of Trouble and Tough Calls

Large companies face pressure, public scrutiny, and hard choices. Walmart has had major compliance and reputation challenges. It has also made business exits when a model did not work as planned.

One example is the long-running FCPA matter that Walmart resolved in 2019 with U.S. agencies. Another example is Walmart’s 2024 decision to close Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care. The company said it could not make the model work in a sustainable way.

2019: Walmart resolved an FCPA matter with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
2024: Walmart announced it would close Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care

Competitors

Walmart competes with other large retailers across several arenas. In big-box retail, it is often compared to Target. In membership clubs, it faces Costco through Sam’s Club.

Online and omnichannel competition is also intense. Amazon is widely viewed as a major rival in eCommerce. Grocery is another key battleground, with several large chains and club formats competing for basket size and loyalty.

Big-box retail: Target
Warehouse clubs: Costco (competes with Sam’s Club)
ECommerce: Amazon
Grocery competition often discussed in the market: Kroger (among other large food retailers)

Acquisitions, Mergers, and Partnerships

Walmart’s growth has not been only organic. It also expanded through major deals and partnerships. These moves helped it enter new markets and build digital strength.

Walmart describes its acquisition strategy in filings, including investments in global eCommerce. It has referenced majority stakes in Flipkart and PhonePe as part of that expansion. In 2024, it completed the acquisition of VIZIO.

International entry (early example): Joint venture in Mexico in 1991
India eCommerce: Majority stake in Flipkart (as described by the company)
Digital payments/services exposure: Interests in PhonePe (as described by the company)
2024: Completed the acquisition of VIZIO

People and Ideas That Shaped It

Sam Walton set the tone early. He tied retail success to value, discipline, and an obsession with customers. That mindset stayed central as Walmart grew.

Leadership evolves as a company scales. Walmart announced a CEO succession plan in late 2025. It said John Furner will become President and CEO on February 1, 2026, and Doug McMillon will retire at the end of the fiscal year on January 31, 2026.

Sam M. Walton: Founder and early architect of the business model
Doug McMillon: CEO during major omnichannel expansion; announced retirement at fiscal year-end January 31, 2026
John Furner: Announced successor; to become President and CEO effective February 1, 2026

Work, People, and Culture

Walmart’s culture is shaped by scale and daily operations. It relies on a very large workforce to run stores, clubs, and distribution networks. The company reports about 2.1 million associates worldwide as of January 31, 2025.

Walmart also describes ongoing investments in people and operations in its reporting. When it closed Walmart Health in 2024, it discussed transition support for affected associates. That kind of change shows how strategy decisions touch real jobs.

Workforce (company-reported): About 2.1 million associates worldwide (as of January 31, 2025)
Operational reality: Large teams across stores, clubs, logistics, and digital work
Change management example: Walmart Health closure plan included transition steps for staff

Impact on Industry and Society

Walmart’s size gives it influence. Its pricing, merchandising, and logistics choices can shape how retail works. Its weekly customer visits also show how many households it touches.

Walmart reports about 270 million customer visits per week. That kind of reach means it plays a major role in how many people shop for groceries and essentials. It also affects how suppliers plan, ship, and scale.

Retail reach (company-reported): About 270 million customer visits per week
Scale effect: Pricing and logistics choices can shift broader retail expectations
Supply chain influence: Large distribution and fulfillment networks support national service levels

Reputation, Trust, and Public Perception

Walmart’s public image includes strong associations with low prices and convenience. The company often points to everyday low prices as a key promise. Many customers see Walmart as a practical place for everyday needs.

At the same time, large scale can bring stronger scrutiny. The FCPA case that ended in 2019 is a major example of reputational risk and compliance pressure. Walmart’s handling of such issues becomes part of how the public judges the brand.

Value reputation: Known for everyday low prices
Scrutiny risk: Compliance and governance issues can draw national attention
Notable chapter: FCPA matter resolved in 2019

How Things Changed Over Time

Walmart changed as shopping changed. It moved from discount stores to supercenters and scaled grocery. It then built a stronger online presence and tied stores into pickup and delivery options.

Its business mix also broadened. Company reporting describes growth in services like advertising and marketplace-related activities. It also expanded digital and media capabilities through the VIZIO acquisition in 2024.

Format evolution: Discount stores to Supercenters, plus Sam’s Club
Digital evolution: Early websites to full omnichannel shopping
Service evolution: Growing focus on advertising and marketplace services
Media growth: Added VIZIO and SmartCast in 2024

Interesting Facts

Walmart shares several facts that help show its scale and structure. These are useful for readers who want quick, verified details. They also help place the company’s history in context.

Each fact below comes from company reporting or official announcements in the research set. They highlight reach, size, and recent leadership and market changes. They avoid rumors and stay tied to published statements.

Weekly reach (company-reported): About 270 million customer visits per week
Store footprint (company-reported): 10,750+ stores across 19 countries
Workforce (company-reported): About 2.1 million associates worldwide (as of January 31, 2025)
Business segments (company-reported): Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam’s Club U.S.
Leadership change announced: John Furner to become President and CEO effective February 1, 2026
Listing move: Walmart transferred its listing to Nasdaq on December 9, 2025 (ticker remains WMT)
Healthcare pivot: Walmart announced it would close Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care in 2024
Media and ads move: Walmart completed the acquisition of VIZIO in 2024

Lessons From Walmart’s Journey

Walmart’s story shows how far a simple idea can go. Low prices alone are not enough. The company ties its pricing promise to daily operational discipline.

It also shows the value of adapting. Walmart shifted formats, built digital tools, and expanded services when shopping habits changed. It also shows that large bets sometimes end, like the 2024 Walmart Health closure.

Consistency matters: EDLP works best when customers trust it will last
Operations shape strategy: Cost control supports pricing power
Adaptation is required: Store strength plus digital strength is now a must
Reality checks are healthy: Ending a plan can be smarter than forcing it
Governance matters: Compliance issues can shape the company for years

Where Walmart Stands Now

Walmart describes itself as a global retailer with large physical and digital reach. It reports more than 10,750 stores and operations in 19 countries. It also reports about 270 million customer visits each week.

The company reports three main segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam’s Club U.S. This structure helps explain how Walmart manages very different markets and formats. It also shows why the business is more than just one store type.

Segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam’s Club U.S.
Walmart U.S.: 4,605 stores
Walmart International: 5,566 units (fiscal year ended January 31, 2025)
Global: 10,750+ stores and operations in 19 countries

What’s Next

Walmart’s near-term “next” includes a major leadership transition. The company announced that John Furner will become President and CEO on February 1, 2026. It also announced that Doug McMillon will retire at the end of the fiscal year on January 31, 2026.

Walmart also continues to emphasize omnichannel shopping and efficiency. It highlights growth areas like advertising and marketplace services in company reporting. These themes point to how Walmart plans to compete in a world shaped by both stores and screens.

CEO transition: John Furner becomes President and CEO on February 1, 2026
Retirement date: Doug McMillon retires on January 31, 2026 (fiscal year-end)
Competitive focus: Omnichannel shopping, logistics strength, and value
Growth focus (as described in filings): Advertising and marketplace-related services

From the Beginning to Today

Walmart’s timeline starts before the Walmart name existed. It begins with Sam Walton’s early retail work. It then moves through big format changes, global expansion, and digital growth.

1945

Sam Walton opens a Ben Franklin franchise variety store in Newport, Arkansas.

1950

Walton opens Walton’s 5&10 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

1962

The first Walmart store opens in Rogers, Arkansas.

1970

Walmart completes its initial public offering (IPO).

1983

The first Sam’s Club opens.

1988

The first Walmart Supercenter opens.

1991

International expansion begins through a joint venture in Mexico.

1996

Walmart launches early eCommerce efforts with walmart.com and samsclub.com.

2019

Walmart resolves an FCPA matter with U.S. agencies.

2024

Walmart announces it will close Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care.

2024

Walmart completes the acquisition of VIZIO.

2025

Walmart announces CEO succession, with John Furner set to become President and CEO on February 1, 2026.

December 9, 2025

Walmart transfers its listing to Nasdaq, while keeping the ticker symbol WMT.

Sources: Walmart Corporate, Walmart Investor Relations, U.S. SEC, U.S. Department of Justice, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Business Wire, Nasdaq, National Retail Federation, Investopedia, Paul Sableman from St. Louis, MO, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons