Walmart 2003 Annual Report Download - page 13

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Company to Work For” by the
Sunday Times in its 2002 annual
survey of associates from various
leading companies.
“As we grow around the world, it’s
important to our success that we
exchange best practices among all
the countries where we operate,”
says Craig Herkert, executive vice
president and chief operating officer
of Wal-Mart International. In fiscal
2003, the George™ line of apparel
from the U.K. was launched in the
United States, Canada and Germany,
enjoying strong Customer acceptance.
The Mary-Kate and Ashley®brand, a hit
with young girls in the United States,
has been rolled out to Puerto Rico,
Canada and the U.K. Both brands
are on their way to becoming global.
Other good ideas, like Canada’s new
“Baby Center” concept, also are being
shared around the world. These centers
provide a complete range of baby
products in one convenient, centralized
area of the store, in addition to
entertainment for toddlers and baby-
care information for new mothers.
Another key to international growth
is expanding our network of global
suppliers. This past year we held
12 global sourcing summits, a forum
where Wal-Mart merchants from
around the world collaborate with
suppliers. Through these summits
and other global sourcing initiatives
we were able to engage more than
300 suppliers for opportunities to
expand their business into other
Wal-Mart markets. More than 190
of them are now conducting business
with Wal-Mart around the globe.
“As we become more global, we
intend to remain local,” says Menzer.
As a result, most Wal-Mart store
managers and senior managers are
natives of the countries where we
operate. Many began their Wal-Mart
careers as hourly Associates, giving
them a solid understanding of the
business and our Customers. In
fiscal 2003 we accelerated a program
designed to promote high-potential
Associates to other assignments around
the world, including our Home Office.
“Our commitment to meeting the
needs of each individual Customer
can be fulfilled only by recruiting,
developing and promoting the very
best people we can find around the
world,” says Menzer.
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