Wal-Mart Restores Product Assortment

Declining sales combined with steep market competition has prompted Walmart to broaden product assortment by approximately 8,500 items or 11 percent in an average store. These assortment changes reverse the company’s previous SKU rationalization strategy and will bring back customers’ favorite local food and consumables, among other products
 

“We’ve listened to our customers and we’re bringing back the products and brands they want,” says Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. “Customers have already seen a wider selection of products on our shelves and we’ll continue to bring back great products at great prices.”
 

The retailer says it is adding back products every day. Additions to the dry grocery aisles for products like pasta, beverages and snacks have been in progress and will continue. In the next few months, additions to fresh grocery and consumables, such as paper towels, toilet paper and laundry detergent, as well as health and wellness products, will be made. General merchandise categories like electronics, sporting goods, apparel, fabrics/crafts and outdoor living will expand later this year. Customers will be able to identify these items with new “It's Back” flags on store shelves later this month.
 

To further re-establish its one-stop shopping convenience and deliver low prices every day, on everything,Walmart is launching a national television advertising campaign. In May, new in-store signage will appear in stores nationwide.
 

Walmart’s efforts to provide low prices will include checking the competition more often to help ensure Walmart stores offer lower prices on the right mix of items and partnering with suppliers to lower the cost per item and pass those savings on to customers.
 

Its Ad Match policy has been simplified as well. For example, customers do not have to bring in a competitor’s advertisement. If customers find a lower advertised price, we’ll match it at the register.