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FAYETTEVILLE – Employees and shareholders of Walmart Inc. gathered at the Bud Walton Arena Friday for the retailer's annual celebration. The event was crowned with a week of tours, concerts and other activities designed to introduce employees visiting the Northwest Arkansas and Walmart headquarters in Bentonville.
Actress Jennifer Garner was the presenter of the three-hour event and Modern family Star Sofia Vergara spoke on stage with Marc Lore, General Manager of eCommerce at Walmart in the United States, about the line of jeans she designed for the company. The musical guests Lady Antebellum, Neon Trees, Bebe Rexha and Maren Morris were entertained, with the One Republic group closing the festivities.
The surviving children of Walmart founder Sam Walton – Rob, Jim and Alice Walton – were present, along with other members of Walton's extended clan. A son, John, died in the crash of his ultra-light airplane built in 2005.
Between performances, Walmart executives highlighted the growth and achievements of the company over the past year, particularly in the areas of e-commerce and technology innovation. Everyone emphasized the role that employees play, individually and globally, in the retailer's success.
Walmart Chairman Greg Penner, after describing Walmart's "incredible year" of strong sales, rapid growth in new areas and rising share prices, said Friday celebration "reminds how much Sam is right [Walton] was about the most important part of our society. That's why I chose to wear this pin today. It's the one that Sam has always worn in stores: "Our staff makes the difference."
Greg Foran, President and CEO of Walmart's US Division, thanked the division's employees for "a fantastic performance" over the past year, especially with the successful pick-up of online groceries and the implementation of new technologies in the stores.
Citing the relationships he has seen during his travels across the country between Walmart and the communities in which his employees live and work, Mr. Foran said he believed that success in most areas of life depended on personal relationships.
"I think that personal relationships are at the root of how we, as Walmart, or anyone else, can defend many of the values that bring out the best of humanity," Foran said. "If each of us constructs this kind of relationship in a reasonable way, we can make a difference in people's lives and in the neighborhoods where they live and work."
The themes of change, innovation and problem solving were frequently discussed, fitting out a week in which Walmart announced that it would begin offering home grocery delivery directly to refrigerators, at the end of this year. Doug McMillon, President and CEO of the retailer, explained the new service announced Thursday.
All deliveries will be made by employees who have been working in the company for at least a year, said McMillon. Customers, who set the date and time of delivery, will be informed of the arrival of employees at their home. Customers can also view live delivery online or save a recording later.
McMillon also described another new service, which will be available from July for members of the Sam's Club, Walmart's member store division. A mobile app called Sam 's Garage, born out of McMillon' s frustration and waiting last year to buy a new tire at a Bentonville Sam club, will dramatically speed up the pace. tire buying experience, he said.
Referring to how Sam Walton built the company by solving the problems of his clients, Mr. McMillon said his future depended on the same strategy.
"Walmart creates opportunities," he said. "We are not afraid of problems, they are opportunities, we welcome them, we grow and change, we adapt.
"Our ability to thrive in the future depends on our ability to solve problems together … You see opportunities, you solve problems, you are the solution."
Walmart associates stand up and cheer on Friday at the Bud Walton Arena at the retailer's annual celebration. ">
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Walmart associates stand up and cheer on Friday at the Bud Walton Arena at the retailer's annual celebration.
Members of the Walton family attend the Friday celebration at the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. ">
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Members of the Walton family attend the Friday celebration at the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
The dancers perform in front of the Walton family members on Friday during the shareholder ceremony. ">
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The dancers perform in front of the Walton family members on Friday during the shareholder ceremony.
Lady Antebellum will perform in front of the Walton family on Friday at the shareholder ceremony. ">
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Lady Antebellum will perform in front of the Walton family on Friday at the shareholder ceremony.
Actress Jennifer Garner, host of Walmart's three-hour celebration, will address the crowd Friday in the Bud Walton Arena. ">
Charlie Kaijo's picture
Actress Jennifer Garner, host of Walmart's three-hour celebration, will address the crowd Friday in the Bud Walton Arena.
A section on the 06/08/2019
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