More than 100 Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Move on to Next Step During Walmart’s 6th Annual Open Call Event
June 20 2019 - 8:46AM
Business Wire
Companies from across the country attend
informative two-day supplier event, culminating with pitches to
Walmart buyers
Hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses lined the halls
at Walmart’s Home Office on Wednesday to pitch their
U.S.-manufactured products to Walmart buyers, hoping to land on
store shelves and create more American jobs. During the sixth
annual Open Call event, more than 100 companies moved on to the
next step, with several dozen getting deals on the spot to go on
Walmart store shelves. Everyone received valuable feedback on their
product from the buyer, and – for the fourth year in a row –
Walmart offered all suppliers with shelf-stable items the
opportunity to sell on Walmart.com.
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the full release here:
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Representatives from Sweety Ice Cream
with Walmart’s Chief Merchandising Officer Steve Bratspies after
getting an “on the spot” deal during the opening session of 2019
Open Call. (Photo: Business Wire)
In addition to pitch meetings, the two-day event provided
informative sessions for supplier-hopefuls. These included a
supplier mentoring session, a discussion on how suppliers can grow
their businesses and a presentation on how to get products ready
for retail. Wednesday morning featured award-winning entrepreneur
and CEO Larry Broughton sharing strategies on how entrepreneurs can
take their business to the next level. Attendees received
autographed copies of his latest best-selling book.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon – who once worked as a buyer for the
company – also addressed the eager entrepreneurs. He shared why
buying local products makes economic sense and is good for the
communities Walmart serves: “If we can create great local jobs,
we’re going to have better stores and better, stronger
communities,” said McMillon. “We love to buy things that are close
to our distribution centers and our stores because it creates those
jobs, while also helping us be more efficient. So, this is
strategic and something we should be doing as a business. But we
also bring an emotional component to this because we care about
people. We want everybody who has anything to do with Walmart –
whether they’re a customer or an associate or a supplier of ours –
to benefit.”
The companies in attendance represented a broad geography,
including 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada,
Mexico and Australia. Collectively, their impact on the U.S.
manufacturing sector can be felt across the country, as they are
manufacturing their products in 44 different states, the District
of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
"Walmart always sounded like the company that is impossible to
get into,” said Toyin Kolawole, founder and CEO of Iya Foods.
“Walmart is the only grocery chain to give us such an opportunity
like this as a small business. I don’t know of any other store that
does an Open Call event the way Walmart does."
2019 Open Call attendees moving on to the next step include:
- Boat Bling, Phoenix, Arizona – hot sauce
- Jarratt Industries, LLC, Fayetteville, Arkansas – bug
blocker socks
- Sweety Ice Cream, Monterey Park, California – matcha
green tea mochi ice cream
- Sierra Sage Herbs, Lyons, Colorado – organic hand
moisturizer
- Kira Labs, Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida – anti-aging
retinol shower gel
- Iya Foods LLC, North Aurora, Illinois – spicy fried rice
seasoning
- Foppers Pet Treat Bakery, Logansport, Indiana – dog
bones
- Michigan Ladder Company, Ypsilanti, Michigan --
fiberglass step ladder
- Plastilite, Omaha, Nebraska – biodegradable foam
cooler
- Magic Ninja Dust, Flemington, New Jersey – liquid chalk
for gymnasts and climbers
- FTI Brands LLC, Columbus, Ohio – shoe scuff mark
remover
- 503 Distilling, Oregon City, Oregon – canned
cocktail
- Alamo Candy Company, San Antonio, Texas – strawberry
candy strips
- Jody's Gourmet Popcorn, Norfolk, Virginia – caramel
corn
- Ivy City Smokehouse, Washington, DC – smoked salmon
jerky
- Medella Laboratories, Wausau, Wisconsin – natural
children’s probiotics
Walmart is leading the way through its commitment to purchase an
additional $250 billion in products made, sourced or grown in the
U.S. by 2023. The Open Call event underscores that commitment and
helps Walmart make a difference on something customers care
about.
Join the Open Call conversation on social media channels using
#WalmartOpenCall.
For more information on Walmart’s commitment to U.S.
manufacturing, visit
http://corporate.walmart.com/americaatwork.
About Walmart
Walmart 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, over 275
million customers and members visit our more than 11,300 stores
under 58 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites. With
fiscal year 2019 revenue of $514.4 billion, Walmart employs over
2.2 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, on Facebook at
http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/walmart.
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Walmart Media Relations Tiffany Wilson or Charles Crowson
1-800-331-0085 news.walmart.com/reporter
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