Walmart is seeking out more suppliers of American-made products.
Products made, sourced or grown in the United States currently account for about two-thirds of what Walmart U.S. spends to buy products. But Walmart wants that figure to rise.
Local sourcing helps Americans get jobs, supports the local community and creates a more efficient supply chain, Andy Murray, Walmart’s SVP of Creative, said in a keynote presentation at the Path to Purchase Institute’s Shopper Marketing Summit last month in Schaumburg, Ill.
“U.S. manufacturing, and the jobs it creates, is something our customers care deeply about,” said Murray.
Walmart announced that it will spend $250 billion on U.S.-manufactured products over next 10 years. That means that by 2023, it will sell 15% more U.S. products than it does today, according to the company.
The time is right to bring manufacturing back to the United States, in part, because labor costs in Asia are rising while energy costs in the U.S. are lower than in many other countries, Walmart states on its website. The current focus is on categories like sporting goods, apparel basics, storage products, games and paper products.
Walmart launched a microsite that aggregates about 4,000 American-made products.
“The microsite makes it easier for our customers to buy American-made,” he said.
Among the products featured: Dove soap, Suave shampoo, Colgate toothpaste and Rubbermaid food storage containers.
“Shop our growing assortment of products made by American workers,” the site reads.
The microsite includes a rotating manufacturer profile called “Manufacturer’s Spotlight.” The current profile features Little Tykes, which has been making toys in Ohio since 1969.
Walmart debuted new television ads and online videos that tell the story of how local sourcing not only helps individuals, but also local communities.
The retailer will hold its second U.S. Manufacturing Summit in August in Denver. More than 500 suppliers attended the first U.S. Manufacturing Summit last August.
Multiple companies have since announced domestic manufacturing investments. GE, for instance, says it’s creating 150 jobs to produce domestically made GE Energy Efficient Soft White bulbs to be sold exclusively at Walmart’s U.S. stores.
Kayser-Roth, Renfro, Element Electronics Corp., Chobani and Hampton Products International have also made U.S-manufacturing commitments.
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